FOISA – The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Places a duty on those organisations covered to proactively publish certain types of information, to respond to requests for information and to provide advice and assistance to those making requests for information.
EIRs – Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004
Those organisations covered by the EIRs have a duty to respond to requests for environmental information and actively disseminate environmental information.
SIC – The Scottish Information Commissioner
The regulator responsible for ensuring that those bodies covered by FOISA and the EIRs comply with the terms of the legislation.
MPS – Model Publication Scheme
Produced by the SIC – this details all of the information that those subject to FOISA should publish (if they hold it).
Guide to Information –
A guide that all organisations subject to FOISA must produce to help people access the information it makes available.
Classes of Information –
Nine broad categories describing the types of information authorities should publish (if they hold it).
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) requires that Registered Social Landlords and certain connected bodies in Scotland must adopt and maintain a publication scheme. This must set out all of the information that we publish and how you can access it. Hillcrest has adopted the Scottish Information Commissioner’s (SIC) Model Publication Scheme (MPS). The Guide to Information details what we publish and contains links to where you can find all of the information listed online.
All of the information listed in the Guide to Information is available on our website (unless stated) and completely free to access online. However, we understand that not everyone will have online access. Where this is the case, we can provide a physical copy of information or you can contact us to view information in one of our offices (where this would be convenient).
If you would like a printed copy of any of the information listed, to request information that we publish in a format other than online or to arrange a visit to our offices to view information, please contact:
Business Services Team
Hillcrest Homes
1 Explorer Road
Dundee
DD2 1EG
informationgovernance@hillcrest.org.uk
0300 123 2640
Whilst we will try to make all of the information we have detailed available, in rare cases there may be some information that we cannot make available. For example, if we were to publish certain board minutes, it could reveal personal details about an individual. This would be a breach of Data Protection legislation if we were to do so. When this is the case, we will remove any personal details before publication and highlight where and why we have done so.
We aim, where possible, to publish information for at least the current and previous two financial years. When we review and update individual documents (for example, our policy documents), we will only publish the current version to avoid confusion.
Where we hold the copyright on our published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:
If you have any queries about anything contained within the Guide to Information, if any links are not working or if there is some information that you cannot find that you would like to access, please contact:
Business Services Team
Hillcrest Homes
1 Explorer Road
Dundee
DD2 1EG
informationgovernance@hillcrest.org.uk
0300 123 2640
Under the MPS, the information we provide must be listed under certain “classes” of information. These are the categories of information that are detailed in our Guide to Information. As FOISA applies to other bodies and sectors across Scotland (such as the Scottish Government and Councils) this means that not all of the categories in the MPS apply to registered social landlords.
The details of all the information we hold under each of the classes are outlined in our Guide to Information. Links to the information are provided when this information is available online.