Freedom of information
Freedom of Information
This page tells you how to request information from us under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and also explains our publication scheme.
Background information about the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website (http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/official_information.aspx).
Requesting Information
If you would like to request information under the Freedom of Information Act please write to us at:
Agency Records Officer
National Measurement Office
Stanton Avenue
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 0JZ
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8943 7272
Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 7270
Email: david.williams@nmo.gov.uk
Please use the ICO website and be specific about the information you want as this will help us find it for you.
Publication Scheme
This is the Agency’s Publication Scheme, drawn up under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of this publication scheme is to set out:
- Classes of information we commit to publish as a matter of course
- How this information will be published
- Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment
The publication scheme fulfils the requirements of the Information Commissioner as set out in his model publication scheme for FOI public authorities supported by the Commissioner’s definition document for Government departments.
Suggestions or complaints about this publication scheme can be addressed to the Agency Records Officer through use of the above contact details. Printed versions of the scheme are available on request from the Records Management Team.
Publication Scheme: http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispartners/nmo/docs/about-us/key-docs/nmo-publication-scheme-v7.pdf
Advice on the ‘Qualified Person’
Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) relates to information that, if disclosed, would adversely affect the delivery of effective central government and other public services. It requires a determination by a ‘qualified person’.
The exemption from disclosure in section 36 only applies if in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person certain forms of adverse effect would or would be likely to follow from disclosure. This exemption is subject to the FOIA public interest test which means the information can be withheld if the public interest in withholding it outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
Some qualified persons are listed in FOIA itself – in the case of information held by a central government department or agency, for example, a Minister of the Crown acts as the qualified person.
