The Pensions Regulator

Our publication scheme

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What is the Freedom of Information Act?
What is a publication scheme?
How do I ask for information from the Pensions Regulator?
What will the Pensions Regulator do with my request?
What if the information I want is not listed in the publication scheme?
Can the Pensions Regulator withhold information?
What if I'm not satisfied with how the Pensions Regulator has dealt with my request?
Charges for freedom of information requests
Copyright statement
Useful contacts

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What is the Freedom of Information Act?

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force on 1 January 2005. It affects all public authorities and gives you a right (unless an exemption applies) to:

• be told if information is held; and
• be given that information.

The term 'public authority' includes most public organisations and government departments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland have their own Act), and also includes us, the regulator of work-based pensions in the UK.

The Information Commissioner is responsible for overseeing the Act (together with the Data Protection Act. By law, we and other public authorities must:

• adopt and maintain a publication scheme;
• confirm or deny (when requested) whether or not information is held; and
• provide that information (or explain why it will not be provided) within 20 working days.

Most requests for information will be free of charge, although sometimes we might make a charge for postage, photocopying, tapes or disks.

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What is a publication scheme?

The main purpose of a publication scheme is to make information readily available without the need for specific written requests. Our publication scheme explains:

• the classes of information that we already publish or intend to publish;
• how we will publish the information (for example, on our website); and
• whether or not we will make a charge for the information.

It is not a full list of our publications as the list changes and we update publications regularly.

During 2006 and 2007 the Information Commissioner is undertaking a review of how publication schemes should look.

Once that is known the Commissioner will then start to approve all the schemes, beginning in June 2008.

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How do I ask for information from the Pensions Regulator?

• You should ask for information in writing (letter, email or fax)
• Don't forget to provide your name and a contact address so that we can send you your information
• You will need to describe the information you want to help us identify, find and provide it for you, but you do not have to tell us why you want it and we will not ask
• Contact us by:
  • email - foi@thepensionsregulator.gov.uk;
  • post - The assistant corporate secretary, The Pensions Regulator, Napier House, Trafalgar Place, Brighton, BN1 4DW; or
  • fax - 01273 627630

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What will the Pensions Regulator do with my request?

• When we receive your request we will normally respond within 20 working days
• We will tell you whether you need to pay a fee (if there is a fee, you must pay this before we send the information)
• In most cases we will confirm whether or not we hold the information you want
• We will ask you what format you would prefer us to provide the information in
• If we don't hold the information we will tell you who does (if we know)
• If we decide not to provide the information you have asked for we will tell you why
• If there is a delay we will tell you why and let you know when you can expect to receive the information, or we will explain why we cannot provide it

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What if the information I want is not listed in the publication scheme?

Not all of the recorded information we hold will be included in our publication scheme. This does not necessarily mean that it is not available, so please make a written request for the information you want.

The information may be recorded in any form - for example paper, email or electronic - and may come from any source, not just documents published by us.

Remember - if you want information about yourself as an individual, then the Data Protection Act applies, not the Freedom of Information Act.

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