Publication scheme
This scheme specifies the categories of information that the traffic commissioners publish and explains how to get that information.
Traffic commissioner’s publication scheme
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires public authorities to adopt and maintain a publication scheme. Whilst each traffic commissioner is an independent office holder and data controller under the FOI Act, they will be treated as parties in common for the purposes of this publication scheme.
The purpose of this publication scheme is to:
- specify the classes of information traffic commissioners have committed to publish
- say how traffic commissioners will make that information available
- say whether the information is available free of charge or on payment
Most of the information covered by the publication scheme will be made available on the traffic commissioners’ pages on the GOV.UK website. If information is required in an alternative format, all reasonable steps will be taken to assist.
This publication scheme follows the Information Commissioner’s Model publication scheme for bodies only covered for certain information (PDF, 140KB) and the further guidance provided in the Definition document for non-departmental public bodies and other public authorities (PDF, 169KB).
About this scheme
This publication scheme is not a list of individual publications but rather a description of the classes or types of information that the traffic commissioners are committed to publishing.
The scheme is not an exhaustive list of all the types of information that the traffic commissioners publish. The policy is to publish proactively as much information as possible where the information would have a wider public interest.
The scheme does not include information that is considered to be sensitive, such as certain types of commercial or personal information, or information about security matters or which comprise legal advice.
Charges for information
Nearly all of the information can be accessed via the traffic commissioners’ web pages free of charge. In some cases charges will apply, as explained in this guide and on the traffic commissioners’ web pages.
Information not already published
If you cannot find what you want through this scheme, or otherwise on the website, you may wish to make a Freedom of Information or Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) request.
Feedback and complaints about the scheme
If you would like to provide feedback about the traffic commissioners’ publication scheme, or have a specific complaint, please contact the Traffic Commissioner Corporate Office by email or in writing to:
Traffic Commissioner Corporate Office
Office of the Traffic Commissioner
Eastbrook
Shaftesbury Road
Cambridge
CB2 8BF
Classes of information
Who we are and what we do
Organisational information, structures, locations, traffic commissioners’ biographies and contacts.
What our priorities are and how we are doing
Traffic commissioners’ mission and vision statement and the traffic commissioners’ annual reports.
Our policies and procedures
The following documents provide the current written protocols for delivering traffic commissioner functions and responsibilities: Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory guidance and statutory directions documents; Administrative policy guidance documents; Complaints protocol for traffic commissioners; Appraisal scheme for traffic commissioners; Senior Traffic Commissioner consultations.
The services we offer
Information about the services we currently provide including the public inquiry guide and Administrative policy guidance no. 1: stakeholder engagement and consultation policy.
What we spend and how we spend it
Financial information for the Senior Traffic Commissioner:allowance, travel and subsistence expenditure.
Financial information for traffic commissioners: annual salary, annual travel and subsistence.
Financial information for deputy traffic commissioners: daily fee rate, total annual spend, annual travel and subsistence expenditure.
Lists and registers
Summary register of operator licence details, lists for applications and decisions (As and Ds) and notifications and proceedings (Ns and Ps), registers for gifts and hospitality for traffic commissioners, registers of interests for traffic commissioners.
How we make decisions
The following documents provide information about how we make decisions: a guide to public inquiries; a guide to making objections, representations and complaints; the Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory guidance and statutory directions documents.
Written requests
Information held by a public authority that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing (by post or email at the addresses shown below), when its disclosure will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
You can also submit an email request
Relevant contacts
TCFOI@otc.gov.uk (for FOI and EIR enquiries)
Information Access Office
Jubilee House
Croydon Street
Bristol
BS5 0GB
Previous Freedom of Information requests
You can also see responses to previous requests on GOV.UK.
Where you can find other relevant information
The following information is relevant to the traffic commissioners’ activities but is not published by us.
Acts of Parliament
Scope: Acts of Parliament, explanatory notes and bills are available online free of charge and can be purchased from The Stationery Office (TSO) website:
Timing: As available on the relevant websites listed above.
Costs: Subject to any charges levied by TSO.
Parliamentary Questions
Scope: Answers provided by DfT to Parliamentary Questions are available from the Hansard website as follows:
Papers deposited in the House Libraries, as part of an answer, and where available in electronic format, will be available from the House websites:
Timing: Copies of PQ answers are available once they have appeared in the Hansard website and are subject to the availability conditions of that site.
Costs: See websites referred to above for pricing.
Statutory Instruments
Scope: Statutory Instruments from 1987 are available online:
Timing: As available on the UK legislation website.
Costs: Free of charge
Related pages
This publication scheme is based on the following guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office:
Model publication scheme for bodies only covered for certain information.
Charging policy
Traffic commissioners publish most of the information online, where it is available for you to view free of charge. Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament. Where paper copies are requested these may incur a charge.
A charge may be incurred for:
- requests for multiple copies
- request for the information in a different format
- requests for archived documents that are no longer available on the website
Any charges made will be to cover the costs of photocopying, postage and packing and you will be informed in advance of being supplied with the information if there will be a charge, and how much it will be.
Information generated by the traffic commissioners may be viewed, by appointment, free of charge by arrangement with the Information Access Office. If you wish to make photocopies of the information a charge may be levied. This will be payable in advance.