Guidance Notes for Dealing with FOI Requests and Third Party Data

  • Requests for information to be forwarded to the Head of Compliance who will log the request.

  • The Head of Compliance will send an acknowledgement out to the requestor.

  • The Head of Compliance will send a copy of the request to the company/third party whose data/confidential information may be involved.  This will be accompanied by a request that they notify the Head of Compliance within 5 working days whether they are happy for the information to be disclosed or not.

  • The company/third party and the Head of Compliance will liaise closely to ascertain if any of the relevant exemptions may be applied to the information requested.  If an exemption is to be used, the Head of Compliance will draft the section 17 Refusal Notice and send to the requestor.

  • If the company/third party is happy to release any or all of the information requested, this will in most instances be confirmed in writing before the information is disclosed to the requestor.

  • In most instances, the ¶º±ÆÖ±²¥ and the company/third party will agree on the appropriate course of action. In the event that the company/third party is unhappy to release any or all of the information requested, against the advice of the Head of Compliance, the Head of Compliance will request that the company/third party put its detailed objections and concerns in writing.

  • The Head of Compliance will discuss the matter in an emergency overview meeting with the Director of Planning & Governance.  The company/third party may be invited to attend.

  • In the unlikely event that the Director of Planning & Governance and Head of Compliance feel it necessary to override the company/third party's view to release the information requested, the Vice Chancellor will be notified and consulted. 

Please note:- the decision to release third party information is not a decision that is going to be taken lightly.  ¶º±ÆÖ±²¥ is aware that information belonging to a company/third party is of a commercially sensitive nature. The University does not wish to prejudice the commercial relationship and trust with such company/third party and will always work together to achive a mutually advantageous result.  however, since the sanctions rest with ¶º±ÆÖ±²¥, the ultimate decision must rest with it.

The company/third party shall be notified of this decision in writing by way of letter or email in order that they may seek legal advice to avoid such disclosure if so required.

If you have any questions about the procedure for dealing with requests, please contact the Head of Compliance on 01248 382413 or email gwenan.hine@bangor.ac.uk.