Corporate information

Freedom of Information Act

What is the Act?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) came into full effect on 1 January 2005. It gives any person of any nationality the right to request official information. It covers all public bodies, including National Museums Liverpool.

All information is covered, irrespective of the format. The information can be requested for any reason. The Act is retrospective, meaning information from any time can be requested.

How can I access information?

First you should look on this website - the Corporate documents page and the Most commonly requested information pages will possibly have what you are looking for.

If you cannot find what you are looking for you should make a request. Requests for information must be made in writing - that includes email - and can be made to any part of the organisation. We must reply to your request within 20 working days (this is extended to 30 days in some cases where archives are involved). The Act gives you, the requester, the following rights:

• the right to be told whether the information exists
• the right to receive the information, where possible, in the manner requested

We will be able to provide the requested information in most cases, however exemptions do exist. In such cases it is considered necessary to reserve this information. Most such cases are subject to a public interest test. We will tell you if we cannot release some or all of the information in question, the reason why not and how you can appeal.

Copies of the Freedom Of Information Act and the Data Protection Act can be found on the Department of Constitutional Affairs website.