GREAT BRITAIN-CHINA CENTRE

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
PUBLICATION SCHEME

As a publicly funded body, the Great Britain-China Centre must comply with the Freedom of Information Act. Responsibility for compliance lies with the Director, Katie Lee, katie.lee @ gbcc.org.uk. The Information Manager, Laura Rivkin, laura.rivkin @ gbcc.org.uk carries out the day to day work on the Publication Scheme. For more general information about the Great Britain-China Centre go to the introduction page on our website, www.gbcc.org.uk/about.htm.

First published 29 November 2002. Last amended 28 February 2008. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHAT IS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT PUBLICATION SCHEME?
HOW TO OBTAIN A DOCUMENT FROM THE GBCC AND CHARGES LEVIED
LIST OF CLASSES AND DOCUMENTS
ABOUT EXEMPTIONS
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE 

WHAT IS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT?

The Freedom of Information Act, passed by Parliament in November 2000, requires government departments and other publicly funded organisations to make freely available to the public a range of information about that organisation, including information that might previously have been considered confidential. People of any nationality, resident in any country, may request this information. The Act is part of the ‘Open Government’ initiative and came fully into force on 1 January 2005. Public bodies must present a 'Publication Scheme'.

For the full text of the Act, including exemptions, go to: www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm. To order a paper copy go to: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop or write to: The Stationery Office Ltd, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich NR3 1PD.  The current charge (as at November 2002) is £7.95. The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Act.

WHAT IS A ‘PUBLICATION SCHEME’? 

The aim of presenting a Publication Scheme is to make people aware they may request this sort of information and to inform them of the range of information available. This Scheme is a structured list, like a library catalogue. People should use the Scheme to choose documents that they wish to see. It includes policy documents, committee minutes, financial statements, as well as the more obviously ‘public’ items such as our publication China Review. 

 The Scheme must:

• include the ‘classes’ or subject headings under which the documents are arranged
• include the extent to which information may be released to the public, depending on the imposition of exemptions
• include in what format the information is available, e.g. electronically, paper-based
• include any charges the GBCC makes for a particular item and payment procedures
• be available to those people who request a paper version of the Scheme itself
• outline the complaints procedure in cases where someone feels they are being denied access unjustifiably

HOW TO ORDER A DOCUMENT: FORMAT & CHARGES

The format, name, code number and cost of a document may be found in the main list.
Use this information and the ORDER FORM to request a document. 

• All the items in the Scheme are marked with the cost, if any, of that item.
• All the documents and information listed in this Publication Scheme are available in a paper version for a cost. 
• For legal reasons, requests must be made in writing, by post, fax, or email.
• Documents that can be emailed will be free of charge, unless marked otherwise.
• All items for which there is a charge must be pre-paid.
• All prices include postage.
• Receipts will not be issued except on request.
• We will respond to the request as quickly as possible, but certainly within 20 working days.
• We are not obliged to create documents that do not already exist in order to include them in the scheme.
• 'Availability’ refers to the level of restrictions that may be placed on a document depending on its content. Exemptions could potentially be applied to documents marked ‘partially’ or ‘fully closed’. We will notify you of the relevant exemption if the information you request cannot be disclosed.
• Send your request to:
  Freedom of Information, Great Britain-China Centre 15 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PS, UK, or contact@gbcc.org.uk or fax 020 7245-6885.

CLASSES OF INFORMATION (SUBJECT HEADINGS) 

Strategic Planning, Policy Making, & Governance
Office Management
Project Management
Information and Advice
General Information

1.  STRATEGIC PLANNING, POLICY MAKING, & GOVERNANCE

code #

2. OFFICE MANAGEMENT

3. PROJECTS MANAGEMENT

4. INFORMATION & ADVICE

Magazine & Other Publications

5. General Information

ABOUT EXEMPTIONS

The Freedom of Information Act includes exemptions that apply to certain types of information, such as information relating to national security or that which would prejudice commercial interests. The Data Protection Act obliges us to protect information about individual people. This right takes precedence over the FOIA requirement, so if we receive requests for information that include personal data we anticipate that we will usually refuse the request or remove text for reasons of confidentiality. We will indicate in the document where portions have been removed and the reasons for doing so. The specific exemptions used will be cited by the GBCC when a refusal is made. To see a list of the exemptions go to the Act: www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm Part II ‘Exempt Information’. We reserve the right to apply exemptions in areas other than Data Protection as they arise. Go to the complaints and appeals section for information about appealing against a refusal.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

The Great Britain-China Centre must reply to an applicant within 20 working days from receiving the complaint.

If an applicant is dissatisfied with the response from the Great Britain-China Centre they may seek an internal review of that decision. A member of staff who was not involved with the original request will undertake the review.

If the applicant remains dissatisfied, they can seek an independent review from the Information Commissioner.  Requests for a review by the Information Commissioner should be made in writing directly to:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House, Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
tel: 01625 545-700
fax: 01625 524-510

This Scheme was drafted and will be reviewed by Laura Rivkin, Great Britain-China Centre. Comments should be sent to: laura.rivkin "at" gbcc.org.uk
15 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PS, fax: 020 7245-6885

ORDER FORM

© GBCC
25 November 2002
categories slightly revised December 2004    GBCC Homepage