LexisNexis and WestLaw Subscriptions

The request was partially successful.

Dear Newcastle University,

I am writing to respectfully make a request in accordance with my rights as set out in the Freedom of Information Act 200 and/or Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Please can you supply a disclosure of the following information:

1. Does the university subscribe to WestLaw and/or LexisNexis

If so,

2. How much does each access subscription cost for a period of either one, three or five years (recognising that not all universities pay in the same way or on the same terms).

3. How many users can access such a subscription (i.e. is this capped).

4. What packages does the University have access to under such subscriptions (Both WestLaw and LexisNexis offer different subscription packages, thus only allowing access to certain resources dependent upon the subscription purchased).

5. Please provide a disclosure of the most recent invoice and/or purchase order confirming how much was paid for one or both subscriptions.

If I am able to provide any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Ryan Jarvis

Good afternoon Ryan,

Please accept this email as confirmation of receipt of your FOI request.

We will forward your FOI request to the relevant Newcastle University department for processing.

Regards,

Information Security & Governance Team
Newcastle University
NE1 8HQ

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Dear Ryan
 
Thank you for your request, which we have handled under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.
 
The University subscribes to both Westlaw and LexisNexis; all University
'authorised users' can access these subscriptions. The accessible packages
are:
 

* Westlaw UK Journals
* Westlaw UK All Books
* LexisLibrary Full Academic Library
* Nexis News & Business

 
We are withholding the information requested in Qs2 & 5 under the
exemption in section 43(2) of FOIA, whereby information is exempt
information if its disclosure … would, or would be likely to, prejudice
the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority
holding it). Newcastle University has negotiated rates and terms with both
LexisNexis and Westlaw; disclosure of these would prejudice our future
negotiations with these suppliers or other third parties, and so the
exemption is engaged.

Section 43(2) is, however, qualified, which means that the public interest
in maintaining the exemption must outweigh that in disclosure. Whilst
there is an accepted general public interest in access to information held
by a public authority, and in this case a specific public interest in
information which would demonstrate value for money in University
procurement, we consider that the public interest in maintaining the
University’s ability to negotiate rates and terms outweighs this, and so
are withholding the requested information.
 
I hope that this is of use. If you are unhappy with the way we have
handled your request you can ask for an internal review. Details of how to
do this can be found at: [1]http://www.ncl.ac.uk/foi/access/complain...
 
If you are not happy with the outcome of the internal review, you then
have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner's Office
for a decision. Details of how to do this can be found at:
[2]http://ico.org.uk/concerns
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Information Governance Team
Executive Office
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
 
 
 
 

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