Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Last updated | 31/03/2010
Data Protection Overview
The Data Protection Act 1998 came into force on 1 March 2000 and is the overall framework within which users of personal data operate. The Act requires that anybody who processes personal information (i.e. obtains, holds, amends, discloses or destroys data) must adhere to the eight data protection principles.
In summary these require that personal data shall:-
- be obtained and processed fairly and lawfully and shall not be processed unless certain conditions are met;
- be obtained for a specified and lawful purpose and shall not be processed in any manner incompatible with that purpose;
- be adequate, relevant and not excessive for those purposes;
- be accurate and kept up-to-date;
- not be kept for longer than is necessary
- be processed in accordance with the data subject's rights;
- be kept safe from unauthorised access, accidental loss or destruction;
- not be transferred to a country outside the EEA (the EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), unless that country has adequate levels of protection for personal data
The Act is governed by the UK Information Commissioner. More information explaining the Act is available on the Commissioner's website.
The Act also gives individuals the right to access personal information held about them. This is called a subject access request. All requests for information under the Data Protection Act should be made to the Data Protection Officer using the contact details below:
Data Protection Officer
Perth & Kinross Council
2 High Street
Perth PH1 5PH
Email: dataprotection@pkc.gov.uk
Freedom of Information Overview
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force on 1 January 2005. The Act differs to the Data Protection Act in that it applies to non-personal information that is, information which does not relate to people. The Council is required to maintain a publication scheme setting out the types of information the Council routinely publishes, as well as reviewing its records management practices.
The Act is governed by the Scottish Information Commissioner. More information explaining the Act is available on the Commissioner's website.
The main element of the Act is the entitlement for anybody to request access to information held by the Council, subject to a limited number of exemptions. All requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act should be made to the Freedom of Information Team using the contact details below:
Freedom of Information Team
Perth & Kinross Council
2 High Street
Perth PH1 5PH
Tel: 01738 477933
Fax: 01738 477939
Email: foi@pkc.gov.uk
