This page provides information for people making requests for information about themselves and about other people. It explains which laws these requests will be handled under and the differences between them.
You can ask for any information at all under the Freedom of Information Act. However, special rules apply if you ask for information about yourself, or about another person.
If you ask for information about yourself, different rules apply to the way your request must be handled, because you have slightly different rights to this information. Requests for information about you are covered by the Data Protection Act.
The Data Protection Act applies to more organisations than the Freedom of Information Act, because it also applies to private organisations like banks, utility companies and other businesses (which are not covered by Freedom of Information).
Organisations have up to 40 days (just over a month) to answer requests under the Data Protection Act.
They might also charge you up to £10 - the law allows them to do this.
More information about your rights under the Data Protection Act
If you ask for information about other people, your request will only be answered as long as it doesn't breach anyone else's rights under the Data Protection Act.
If it would be unfair to the other person if their information were given
to you, then your request will be refused. Similarly, if you ask for information
that the person themselves would not be entitled to receive, your request
will also be refused - it would be unfair if you could see data which
they cannot. If you know that the other person would be happy for you to
have their information, you should ask the person to write to the organisation
confirming their consent to their information being disclosed to you.