Introduction

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 aims to develop a culture of openness in government and public bodies. The Act establishes a right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities and imposes obligations on them to disclose information, subject to a range of exemptions. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a public body under the terms of the Act.

Anyone can make a request for information to the RBGE, although the request must be in writing (letter or email). The Act gives applicants two related rights:

• the right to be told whether the information exists
• the right to receive the information, where possible, in the manner requested.

In some cases, where information is exempt from disclosure, the RBGE is required to consider whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption in question outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

 About RBGE's Publication Scheme

Section 23 of the Act obliges every public authority to adopt an approved Publication Scheme. The intention of a Publication Scheme is to require authorities to make certain kinds of information routinely available to the public. RBGE has adopted the 'Model Publication Scheme' prescribed by the Information Commissioner and available on the Information Commissioner’s website.

The information listed in our Publication Scheme is generally made available in electronic format but can be provided as a hardcopy on request in writing (email is acceptable) or by phone.

The Publication Scheme is published as a separate document.

How to make a request for information not included in the Publication Scheme

Before you make a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland)  Act, please check that the information you would like is not already available. Requests for information not listed in the Publication Scheme should be made in writing (by email where possible) to the RBGE and should provide as much detail as possible to enable staff to identify the information sought. If you require the information in a particular format, for example, in hard copy or electronically, this should be stated in your application. If you have difficulty in identifying the precise information you require, or difficulty in making the application in writing, our staff will be pleased to help.

In general the RBGE is required to respond to requests for information within 20 working days. If a fee is to be charged, this will be calculated according to the fees regulations published by the Information Commissioner. Under the Act, fees may be charged based on a standard hourly rate in respect of the time spent in determining whether we hold the information, locating the information or a document which may contain the information, retrieving the information or a document which may contain the information, and extracting the information from a document containing it. Where fees are payable, the enquiry will be answered within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the fee.

Our postal address is:   

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

20A Inverleith Row 

Edinburgh

EH3 5LR

email to: Secretariat@rbge.org.uk 

Appeals and complaints procedure

If you are dissatisfied with the response you have had from the RBGE in respect of a request for information, you may invoke the appeals and complaints procedure. The first step is to seek an internal review of the decision you have received. Details of which can be found in the response you receive. 

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome or the handling of the internal review conducted by us, you may seek an independent review from the Scottish Information Commissioner.