Publication Scheme Guidance
All Scottish public authorities must produce and maintain a publication scheme which is approved by the Scottish Information Commissioner.
Schemes describe the information that the authority publishes, how to access that information and whether it is free of charge or available for a payment.
Publication Scheme Guidance
In 2004 all Scottish public authorities produced publication schemes which were approved by the Commissioner. The approval for these schemes will expire between 2008 and 2012, starting with central government schemes in 2008. Authorities have been advised of the date of expiry of their schemes. Each Scottish public authority will be required to submit a new publication schemes to the Commissioner for approval prior to the expiry of their existing scheme.
The Commissioner has produced new guidance to assist authorities in fulfilling the duty to adopt and maintain a publication scheme under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).
The guidance is available in both Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF versions below.
Publication Scheme Guidance (word version) (1031kb)
Publication Scheme Guidance (PDF version) (252kb)
The Commissioner's publication scheme approval timetable for 2008-2012 is also contained in the guidance.
Please email any comments on the above guidance to publicationschemes@itspublicknowledge.info.
Revisions to existing schemes
Even where a publication scheme is not due to expire, public authorities should, as a matter of good practice, review their schemes from time to time. There may also be occasions when changes occur in the public authority which mean that the publication scheme needs to be updated e.g. changes in address details, new functions requiring addition of a new information class.
Some changes can be made without any further action being needed, but others require the Commissioner to be notified, and some may require his approval. For more information, see Revising a Publication Scheme.
Publication Scheme Approval Checklist
When submitting a publication scheme for approval all authorities must also submit a completed Publication Scheme Approval Checklist. The checklist asks authorities to self appraise their schemes and to assess whether they demonstrate "due regard to the public interest" in their formulation, as required by FOISA.
Publication Scheme Checklist (912kb)
Publication Scheme Template
The Commissioner has prepared a new publication scheme template, to assist authorities when preparing their publication schemes. This template contains sample text which can be used by authorities when preparing their schemes. The template can be also used when preparing a model publication scheme.
Authorities using the publication scheme template will also be required to submit a completed Publication Scheme Approval Checklist when submitting their scheme to the Commissioner for approval.
The template is available in both Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF versions below.
Publication Scheme Template (word version) (950kb)
Publication Scheme Template (PDF version) (195kb)
Publication Scheme Submissions
Publication schemes and completed checklists can be submitted to the Commissioner by either post or email, to the address below:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
KY16 9DS
Email: publicationschemes@itspublicknowledge.info
Model Publication Schemes
Model publication schemes are single schemes which cover a group of similar public authorities. The Commissioner welcomes the development of model publication schemes by relevant groups or sectors. Any bodies wishing to explore the development of a model publication scheme for their sector should contact the Commissioner's Policy and Information Team at the earliest opportunity, by telephoning 01334 464610 or emailing publicationschemes@itspublicknowledge.info.
The Commissioner's Publication Scheme Guidance (see above) should be closely consulted by authorities when developing any model publication scheme. The Commissioner's Publication Scheme Template can also be used in the development of model schemes.
Model schemes submitted to the Commissioner for approval must be accompanied by a completed Model Publication Scheme Approval Checklist:
Model Publication Scheme Approval Checklist* (912kb)
*To be completed by the body submitting the model publication scheme to the Commissioner for approval
Once a model scheme is approved, it can be adopted by any relevant authority through the submission of a Model Publication Scheme Adoption Form:
Model Publication Scheme Adoption Form* (853kb)
*To be completed by any public authority wishing to adopt an approved model publication scheme
Completed checklists, forms and/or publication schemes should be submitted to the Commissioner at the address given in the previous section.
Authorities should also note that model publication schemes must be submitted to the Commissioner well in advance of the expiry date for that sector, in order to ensure that the scheme can be approved and subsequently adopted by public authorities prior to the expiry date of current schemes.
All model publication schemes which have been approved by the Commissioner can be viewed here.