The Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("the Act") gives everyone in the world the right to request information from any public authority in the UK and to be told whether the information exists. If it does, and, if the public authority cannot claim an exemption from releasing it, the applicant has the right to receive the information. The exemptions, describing the circumstances in which the information need not be released, are set out in the Act and are strictly defined.

These rights became law in January 2005.

To help inform the public about what sort of information public bodies hold and what they must make available, how to obtain this material and how much it will cost, the Act requires that this information is set out in a 'Publication Scheme'. This will also ensure that a significant amount of information is available automatically without the need for people to make a formal request for it under the Act. The Government also intend that the obligation to introduce a Publication Scheme will encourage public bodies to be more pro-active in routinely making information available, and help them to develop a greater degree of openness.

This is VisitBritain's Scheme and you have the right to receive any pieces of information described in it unless we have noted that parts of the information may be withheld: as is the case if the information relates to an individual's personal details; it is information that we have received from others in confidence; or it is information which, if disclosed, could prejudice the commercial interests of VisitBritain or those of another party.

If you would like information from us that is not described in our Publication Scheme you can still ask us for it and, in deciding whether or not to release it, we will follow the procedures set out in Section 2 for responding to requests for information.

VisitBritain has always been an open organisation, committed to making information available and it is rare for us to refuse a request. If we do say no, it will be for a good reason and one that is set out in the Act. Even if we do say no, there is always an appeals procedure, details of which are given in section 6: Complaints and Appeal Procedures.

Download VisitBritain's publication scheme