Re-use of public sector information

The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations

These regulations came into force from 18 July 2015 and establish the UK framework for the re-use of public sector information. The purpose is to make information easier to re-use, resulting in economic, social and civil benefits. They are an update to earlier regulations which encouraged public sector organisations to make information available for re-use.  The 2015 regulations go further, and make it mandatory to make information available for re-use.

Public sector information

Public sector information is any information created by a public sector organisation in undertaking their public task. We have a statement of public task , that describes this for potential re-users.

Re-use

Re-use means use for any purpose other than that for which the information was originally produced.

Find out more

The National Archives has published Guidance and Best Practice Advice on the regulations for public sector organisations and potential re-users.

Information the Scottish Government has available for re-use

As information assets become available for re-use they will be added to the Re-use Register.

In addition, section 23 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requires that all Scottish public authorities maintain a publication scheme setting out the types of information that are routinely made available. For more details on our publication scheme, see our Guide to Information. Information published under our publication scheme can be made available for re-use.

Information for Re-use Register

Assets are added to this register as they become available for re-use.

Title Description Location if published
Scottish Air Quality website Air quality monitoring data http://www.scottishairquality.scot
Scottish Noise Maps Interactive noise maps https://noise.environment.gov.scot
Scotland Heat Mapping Interactive heat maps https://heatmap.data.gov.scot/
Register of Community Interests in Land Application documents and decision notices https://www.gov.scot/policies/land-reform/community-right-to-buy/
Scottish Qualifications Authority Statistics Archive Statistics https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/57518.8313.html
Statistics produced by Scottish Government Statistics https://www.gov.scot/publications/?publicationTypes=statistics&page=1
Consultations – Archived Consultations http://www.gov.scot/Consultations/Archive

Consultations 2015 – current

Consultations https://consult.gov.scot/
Statistics.gov.scot Statistics statistics.gov.scot
SpatialData.gov.scot Spatial data published by public sector organisations spatialdata.gov.scot

Request information for re-use

You can make a request to re-use information by emailing the Data Protection and Information Assets team on dpa@gov.scot .

Describe clearly the information you want to request, and that you want to make the request under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations.

We may charge for information that we provide under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations that falls outside of the scope of our public task.

We will provide the information, or an explanation of why we cannot provide the information, within 20 working days. If you have a complaint about your request to re-use information, you can submit it using our general complaints handling process.

If you are not satisfied by this process you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

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