Conditions for reuse of information

The Regulations allow up to 20 working days from receipt of a reuse request, for us to respond. This timeframe may be extended for extensive or complex requests. In these cases we will give the applicant an estimated response date within the 20 working days.

You will see notices in publications and on the website which explain that a licence is not required for non-commercial research and private study. You will need a licence from us for any other form of reuse (for example, posting material on a website, or distributing printed copies at a meeting).

The licence enables you to reproduce material by publishing it in any medium including the internet, internal electronic networks or intranets. This authorises users of your digital products to access the material by means of an end user licence. This will normally allow the download of material to screen and printer for personal use. It does not otherwise allow you to authorise the reproduction of the information.

The licence enables the material to be translated into other languages or converted to Braille and other formats for people who are visually impaired. It allows the material to be copied for non commercial research or private study.

Full terms and conditions of the licence can be downloaded below. You are advised to read the terms carefully.

More about applying to reuse public sector information.

Principles governing charging

We intend to make most of the material on our website and the significant documents available on our publication scheme (other than those where charges apply) available for reuse. Where a licence is required this may be free of charge or subject to a reasonable charge.

The potential range of requests for re-use mean it is not reasonably practical to publish standard charges. The charge will not exceed the total of the cost of collection, production, reproduction and dissemination of the document requested, plus a reasonable return on investment.

Neither the Regulations nor the Directive define what is meant by a reasonable return on investment. Charges will depend on particular circumstances and you will be advised of any charges due.

Reasons for refusal to allow reuse of a document

We have the right to refuse the re-use of documents provided that there are sound reasons for doing so. This will generally be because the document falls outside the scope of the Directive because:

• copyright in the document is owned by a third party
• supply of the document falls outside its public task (this could include the supply of documents that are produced and charged for exclusively on a commercial basis)
• the document falls within the scope of the exempted classes of material under freedom of information and data protection legislation

If we refuse a request for reuse we will notify the applicant in writing of our decision within the 20 working days required, giving the reason for refusal. If the copyright is owned by a third party, the notification will identify the person who owns the relevant intellectual property rights, where known, or the name of the person from who we have obtained the document.

More about the complaints procedure for reuse of public sector information.