Charging Policy

HSE policy statement on charging

HSC and HSE are committed to openness and aim to release as much information as possible both routinely and in response to requests under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.

• Openness Statement

However HSC/E are aware that there should be a balance between their policy on openness and the regulatory and enforcement responsibilities imposed by HSWA 1974. Consequently HSE’s charging policy has been developed in awareness that resource diverted to respond to FOI requests should not impair HSE’s mission

Introduction

1.1 The Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act) allows public authorities to charge for answering requests in certain cases. This guidance outlines:

• when HSE will charge fees;
• how fees will be calculated; and
• the procedures that will be followed

1.2 There are two types of chargeable fees:

• Prescribed costs of the request – the cost of finding, sorting, editing or redacting the material when it exceeds £600, as defined in The Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (the Regulations).
• Disbursements, such as costs associated with printing, photocopying, postage or information provided in other formats, to be charged in all cases where costs exceed £35

See sections 2 and 3 for more detail.