Access to Communities 
and Local Government Information 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
This leaflet explains how you can get access to information that we 
hold at Communities and Local Government. 
 
 
PUBLISHED INFORMATION 
We publish information in the following ways, all of which you can 
have access to. 
 
 
 
 
•  The publication scheme lists the published information, by categories,available from us, 
our agencies and regional offices. This scheme tells you how to get documents and 
whether there is a charge. 
 
•  The publications database contains details of our publications issued since May 2002. 
You can browse or search for particular publications, see what’s new and send us your 
comments. It tells you how to ask for free publications and how to order (and pay for) 
priced publications. 
 
•  Recently released information such as latest announcements, publications and press 
releases.  
 
•  The information asset register (IAR) lists unpublished information that we hold and that 
is  available for access if you ask. 
 
You can find the publication scheme, publications database, IAR and 
recently released information on our website at 
www.communities.gov.uk 

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REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
 
If information has not been published yet, or will not be published, you 
can still ask for it under the following access guidelines. 
Freedom of Information Act 2000. Apart from certain exemptions, the Act gives a general right 
of access to information that we hold. 
 
Environmental Information Regulations 2004. These regulations give you a right of access to 
environmental information that we hold, including information about air, water, land, natural  
sites, plants and wildlife. 
 
Data Protection Act 1998. The Act gives you the right to ask for access to ‘personal data’ that is 
held about you. 
 
HOW WE WILL HANDLE YOUR REQUEST 
 
Freedom of Information Act. Whenever possible, we will reply to your request within 20 
working days of receiving it. In some circumstances, it may take us longer to provide the 
information. 
 
If this is the case, we will write to tell you when you can expect a reply. We may also ask you for  
a fee if we need to charge you for the information. If we cannot provide the information, we will 
write to explain why we cannot give you the information. One reason could be that we do not 
hold the relevant information or that it is ‘exempt from release’ (in other words, we cannot give  
you the information by law). 
 
Environmental Information Regulations. We will handle any requests made under these  
regulations in the same way as requests made under the Freedom of Information Act. With 
complicated requests, however, it may take us up to 40 working days to send all the information 
to you.  
Data Protection Act. We will search all the relevant records that we hold to find any ‘personal 
data’ we hold about you. We will send the information we hold within 40 days of receiving your 
request. 
 
HOW TO MAKE A REQUEST 
 
•  Freedom of Information Act. You must make your request in writing to the relevant 
business  area. If you don’t know which area that is, you can write to our Enquiry 
Services:  
 
Communities and Local Government  
Enquiry Services 
Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street 
London SW1E 6DE 
(Telephone: 020 7944 4400) 
 
You can also send your written requests to the relevant business area e-mail account (see 
our Website for a list of e-mail accounts). 

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If you can’t find the relevant e-mail address, you can e-mail Enquiry Services E-mail:  
[DCLG request email] 
 
•  Environmental Information Regulations. You can make requests in the same way as 
Freedom of  Information Act requests, or over the phone.  
 
•  Data Protection Act. You should send your requests for ‘personal data’ that we hold 
about you to  the Data Protection Officer. You need to send a cheque for £10 (payable to 
Communities and Local Government) and two  forms of identification (such as a copy of  
your birth certificate, passport, driving licence or household utility bill) with each request you make. 
 
You must make your requests in writing to:  
 
Communities and Local Government 
Data Protection Officer 
Zone 2/F29, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street 
London SW1E 6DE 
(Telephone: 020 7944 6023) 
 
We have a visitor centre at Ashdown House in Victoria Street where you can look at the available 
information. You will need to make an appointment before you can inspect information at the 
visitor centre.  
 
Department for Communities and Local Government 
Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street 
London SW1E 6DE 
 
COMPLAINTS AND REVIEWS 
 
We have an internal complaints and reviews procedure. If you want to make a complaint about  
the way we have handled your request, or if you want to request and Internal Review against our  
decision not to release information, you can contact our Enquiry Services. If you are still not  
satisfied after we have considered your complaint or review, you can appeal to the Information 
Commissioner for a final decision by writing to:  
 
Information Commissioner’s Office 
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire SK9 5AF 
Telephone: 01625 545 700 (switchboard) 
Fax: 01625 524 510 
Email: [email address] 
 
WEB SITE ADDRESSES 
 
Communities and Local Government: www.communities.gov.uk 
Department for Constitutional Affairs: www.dca.gov.uk 
Information Commissioner: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
 
 
 
 

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Published by Communities and Local Government. 
Printed in the UK August 2006 on paper comprising no less than 75% post consumer waste. 
Product code: 06CSR04089/B 
 

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