Guidance

Guidance on the model publication scheme can be found in the model publication scheme section of the website.

The freedom of information guidance we produce is split into these four categories:

Procedural Guidance - this deals with the practical aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, such as how to use the Codes of Practice. This section also includes good practice guidance.
Topic Specific Guidance - this guidance is designed to assist authorities in dealing with requests for specific types of information, such as information relating to the deceased.
Sector Specific Guidance - this is guidance aimed at a particular public authority sector.
Exemptions Guidance - this deals with the exemptions under the Act.

Procedural Guidance

Advice and Assistance	Awareness Guidance 23
Means of Communication	Awareness Guidance 29
Records Management FAQs	Awareness Guidance 8
Time for Compliance	Awareness Guidance 11
Vexatious and Repeated Requests	Awareness Guidance 22
When is information caught by the Freedom of Information Act?	Awareness Guidance 12
Refusal Notice	Good Practice Guidance 1
Using the procedural codes of practice	Good Practice Guidance 2
Lifecycle of a request	Good Practice Guidance 3
Time limits on considering the public interest	Good Practice Guidance 4
Time limits on carrying out internal reviews	Good Practice Guidance 5
Consideration of requests without reference to the identity of the applicant or the reasons for the request	Good Practice Guidance 6
Destruction of requested information
Redacting and extracting information

From time to time, the Information Commissioner's Office will produce guidance aimed at particular public authority sectors.

General Principles:
Absolute / Qualified Exemptions (List of):

Duty to Confirm or Deny	Awareness Guidance 21
Prejudice and Adversely Affect	Awareness Guidance 20
Public Interest Test	Awareness Guidance 3

The Exemptions:

Commercial Interest (Section 43)	Awareness Guidance 5 Public Sector Contracts - FOI Annexe
Communications with Her Majesty and the Awarding of Honours (Section 37)	Awareness Guidance 26
Defence (Section 26)	Awareness Guidance 10
Economy (Section 29)	Awareness Guidance 15
Effective Conduct of Public Affairs (Section 36)	Awareness Guidance 25
Health and Safety (Section 38)	Awareness Guidance 19
Information contained in Court Records (Section 32)	Awareness Guidance 9
Information intended for Future Publication (Section 22)	Awareness Guidance 7
Information provided in Confidence (Section 41)	Awareness Guidance 2
Information reasonably accessible to the Applicant by other Means (Section 21)	Awareness Guidance 6
International Relations (Section 27)	Awareness Guidance 14
Investigations (Section 30)	Awareness Guidance 16
Law Enforcement (Section 31)	Awareness Guidance 17
Legal Professional Privilege (Section 42)	Awareness Guidance 4
Parliamentary Privilege (Section 34)	Under review
Personal Information (Section 40)	Awareness Guidance 1
Policy Formulation, Ministerial Communications, Law Officers' Advice and the Operation of Ministerial Private Office (Section 35)	Awareness Guidance 24
Prohibitions on Disclosure (Section 44)	Awareness Guidance 27
Public Audit (Section 33)	Awareness Guidance 18
Relations within the UK (Section 28)	Awareness Guidance 13