Freedom of Information Charging Regime

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public authorities to publicise its policies in relation to the charging of Fees and Disbursement under the Act.

NHS West Midlands operates according to the following principles:-

Unless the amount of information requested clearly falls outside the limit set by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998 then the SHA will not normally levy any Fee for dealing with the request. (However see below)
Where the statutory cost limit as established in the Regulations is clearly exceeded, then the SHA will provide the applicant with an estimate of costs and will normally ask the applicant to refine their request so as to fall within the cost limit. Where an applicant fails to respond to such a request, or the request still falls outside the cost limit, the request will normally be refused under the exemption provided by S.12.(1) of the Act.
As a matter of policy, the SHA does not normally allow applicants to pay for information where costs exceed the regulatory limit. In the exceptional circumstance that payment is agreed, a Fees Notice will be issued and the complete cost of dealing with the request in accordance with the provisions of the FOIA and the Fees Regulations will be charged.

If a Fees Notice is issued and no response is received, within 12 weeks the request for information will be considered to have lapsed.

Charges

It is the SHA’s responsibility to disclose information in the format it is held and there will be no charge for information which can be accessed via our website, or where it is provided in a single hard copy. However where other formats or copies are requested then the following charges will apply which must be paid for before the information is provided:-

Photocopying

One hard copy of the requested information - Free
Multiple copies 10p per sheet

Reformatting

Re-formatting on CD £5.00 per CD
Other formats Cost on application

Retrieving and collating information

For lengthy burdensome requests for information that would exceed the statutory limit under which public authorities are expected to provide information without charge, the SHA estimates costs based on £25.00 per hour. If the estimate exceeds £450.00 in total (18 hours at £25.00 per hour) then the exemption can be claimed.

Should the SHA decide in exceptional circumstances that an applicant should be allowed to pay for information that exceeds the cost limit, it is the complete cost of location, retrieval, collation etc which is chargeable not that which falls outside the £450.00 cost limit.