Daniel Bennett 
By email to [FOI #1831 email] 
 
20 August 2008  
 
Dear Mr Bennett 
 
RFI20080896 - Freedom of Information request 
 
Thank you for your email of 19 August, requesting the following information:  
“a copy (either electronic or in print) of the old BBC Producer Guidelines. (Not the present Editorial Guidelines, but 
those which were in use prior to the review of 2005.) 
I would also appreciate a date indicating when these Producer Guidelines came into existence.” 
 
The guidelines were drawn up in 2000, and a copy is attached.  
 
Please note that your request falls outside the scope of the Act because the BBC and the other public 
service broadcasters are covered by the Act only in respect of information held for purposes “other than 
those of journalism, art or literature” (see Schedule I, Part VI of the Act). We are not therefore obliged to 
supply information held for the purposes of creating the BBC’s output or information that supports and is 
closely associated with these creative activities. However, on this occasion we are happy to provide the 
information voluntarily, outside the scope of the Act.  
 
For more information about how the Act applies to the BBC please see www.bbc.co.uk/foi     Please note 
that this guidance is not intended to be a comprehensive legal interpretation of how the Act applies to the 
BBC. 
 
The BBC does not offer an internal review when the information requested is not covered by the Act. If 
you disagree with our decision you can appeal to the Information Commissioner. Contact details are: 
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF telephone 
01625 545 700. http://www.ico.gov.uk 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Rachel Hallett 
Advisor, Information Policy & Compliance 
 

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