The Publication Scheme has been designed to include a wide variety of our information. Some of the documents listed may be available on our website and links are provided to enable you to obtain them easily. Where no online version is available the contact point and any associated costs are set out here.
Procedure for making requests
Requests for a paper copy of information, or for information not listed in this Scheme, should be addressed to:
FOI Officer C/O Lisa Wollacott
JISC Office, Northavon House
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1QD
fax 0117 931 7255
email foi@jisc.ac.uk
Applications should be in writing and should provide as much detail as possible to enable us to identify the information sought. Please include the following details:
- your name and address
- the information or documents you would like to access
- the way you would like the information to be sent to you (for example, as hard copy, via e-mail or on a computer disk)
If you have difficulty in identifying the precise information you require, or are unable to make the application in writing, please contact our information service on 0117 954 5083.
We aim to provide information listed in the Publication Scheme within 10 working days. However, where this is not possible we will respond within 20 working days.
Formats and fees
Many of the documents we hold are freely available via our website. To read PDF documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free and available from Adobe.
Where information detailed in this Publication Scheme requires a fee to be paid (for example where a fee is charged for printed documents but not for the same document freely available over the web), this is clearly marked.
The Department of Constitutional Affair’s fee regulation allows JISC to charge for information requests as follows:
- A fee to cover prescribed costs (costs reasonably incurred in finding, sorting or editing material). It does not include costs involved with deciding whether the information is exempt. There is a threshold cost set at £450. Fees can only be charged in such situations where the prescribed costs exceed the limit.
- The prescribed costs can be charged for in full for requests in excess of £450 at a standard rate of £25 per hour.
- The cost of disbursements (printing, copying and postage costs at a standard rate of 10p per sheet) can be charged in all cases.
- The regulations also allow for aggregation of costs where two or more requests on the same or related subject are received from one person or by different enquirers who appear to be involved in a campaign. These subsequent requests must be received before the 60th working day following the first request
Charging
- JISC will not normally charge for disbursements under £20, but reserves the right to charge on a case by case basis.
- JISC will not charge for the prescribed costs of dealing with FOI requests up to £450, calculated at a standard rate of £25 per hour. JISC will not normally agree to fulfil requests where the cost of locating, retrieving and producing the information is in excess of £450 but, where we agree to do so, we reserve the right to charge the full cost on a case by case basis. JISC will, however, always aim to avoid having to make a charge by first discussing with the enquirer whether the request can be modified or refined to a more manageable level. Where charges apply or are likely to apply, we will notify the estimated charge to the enquirer before doing any charged work.
- Assuming we can meet the request, JISC will not charge for providing information in an alternative format if the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) covers the person requesting it, unless the original document was a priced publication. In this case, the charge for the alternative format will not exceed the cost of original publication.
- JISC will not normally charge extra to applicants who wish to have a hard copy rather than accessing the information electronically from our website.
- Requests for information may be forwarded where this is readily accessible from another source (even though this may attract a charge).
- Where charges apply, we will require payment to be received in full by JISC before compiling and supplying information.
Appeals procedure
The FOI Act sets out a series of exemptions to protect confidential or other information where disclosure may prejudice the interests of the State or of third parties. Where we invoke these provisions to withhold information, that decision is subject to a review process. Decisions about deferral of access to information, the way in which access is given, or the level of fees or charges, are also subject to review.
Requests to review decisions where you feel that information which should have been provided has not been provided should be made to us. We will then undertake the internal review, and the applicant will be informed of the outcome.
All such appeals should be made in writing, setting out in full the nature of the appeal and the enquiry to which its pertains and addressed in the first instance to Lisa Wollacott.
It should also be noted that the information set out in this document, including the complaints procedure, only applies to that information which is directly under JISC’s control. Where information relating to the JISC is held by other public authorities (as indicated in the scheme) access to it will be subject to the fees regulations of that authority and any complaints regarding access subject to that authority’s own complaints procedure.
See further details of the JISC FOI appeals procedure.