The Act

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act)

The Freedom of Information Act 2000, which came into force in January 2005, gives the public a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. The term “public authority” is defined in the Act and includes all public bodies and government departments in the UK.

Application of the Act to MG ALBA

Significantly, MG ALBA is only covered by the Act for some purposes of its work. The Act provides that for MG ALBA, in common with various broadcasters, the provisions of the Act only apply “in respect of information held for purposes other than those of journalism, art and literature”. This means that the Act does not apply to material held for the purposes of creating programmes or material which supports and is closely associated with these creative activities.

Requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
To exercise your right of access under the Act, you should:

  • make your request in writing (e-mail, letter or fax);
  • address your request to: MG ALBA, Seaforth Road, Stornoway HS1 2SD. E-mail: foi@mgalba.com. Fax: 01851 706432;
  • provide your name and address to allow the BBC to be able to respond to your request;
  • describe in as much detail as possible the information that you require to allow the BBC to be able to identify and locate it; and
  • confirm your preferred method for receiving the information (e.g. paper copy, e-mail, disc).

MG ALBA will respond to requests for information within 20 working days from the date of receipt.

BBC ALBA

Any requests for information concerning the collaboration between MG ALBA and the BBC in relation to the running or management of BBC ALBA, the free-to-air Gaelic television and online service, should be addressed to BBC Scotland, whose responsibility it will be, jointly with MG ALBA, to agree the appropriateness of content and final version of any response. You will find the BBC’s freedom of information scheme at www.bbc.co.uk/foi.

Requests about BBC ALBA

To exercise your right of access under the Act, you should:

  • make your request in writing (e-mail, letter or fax);
  • address your request to: BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1DA. E-mail: foi@bbc.co.uk. Fax: 020 8008 2398;
  • provide your name and address so we can respond to your request;
  • describe in as much detail as possible the information that you require so we can identify and locate it; and
  • confirm your preferred method for receiving the information (e.g. paper copy, e-mail, disc).

Exemptions

It is our policy to be as open as possible. However, under the Act, all public authorities have the right to withhold certain types of information. The list of exemptions and guidance on how they apply can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at this link.
These exemptions may be applicable in addition to the specific exclusion in relation to information held for the purposes of “journalism, art and literature”.

In some circumstances, information we make publicly available is contained in documents which also include material that is excluded from the scope of the Act. (For example, our Annual Report includes information about the way in which MG ALBA is run and information held for the purposes of “journalism, art and literature”). Where we can, we try to provide access to selected documents of this type, even if they include material which is not within the scope of the Act.

Where we are unable to disclose information due to an exemption under the Act, we will issue as much information from any particular document as possible, highlighting where information has been withheld and the nature of the exemption that applies.