Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies to all “public authorities” as defined in the Act, including Magdalene College.

FOI: Magdalene College Publication Scheme

There has been a continuous tradition of academic study on the site of Magdalene College for more than 550 years. In 1428 Abbot Lytlington of Crowland Abbey, near Peterborough, was licensed by Letters Patent of King Henry VI to acquire the site, so that a hostel could be established in Cambridge for Benedictine student-monks. From these early beginnings came first Buckingham College (between 1472 and 1483) and then Magdalene College in 1542.

Each Cambridge College is an independent institution with its own property and income. Magdalene College appoints its own staff and is responsible for selecting its own students in accordance with University regulations. The teaching of students is shared between the Colleges and the University. The University has its own publication scheme.

This Publication Scheme is in the form approved by the Information Commissioner and requires the College to make information available to the public routinely and proactively, as part of its normal business activity. The classes of information covered are detailed below, where this information is held by the College.

The scheme commits Magdalene College:

• To publish or otherwise make available, information, including environmental information, which is held by the College and falls within the classifications below.
• To specify the information which is held by the College and which falls within the classifications below.
• To proactively publish or otherwise make available, as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
• To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
• To review and update on a regular basis the information the College makes available under this scheme.
• To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is not directly available.
• To make this publication scheme available to the public.

Classes of information

The scheme is arranged in the following classes:

1. Who we are and what we do

Organisational information, locations, and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

2. What we spend and how we spend it

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.

3. What our priorities are and how we are doing

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections, and reviews.

4. How we make decisions

Policy proposals and decisions. Decision-making processes, internal criteria and procedures, and consultations.

5. Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.

6. Lists and Registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.

7. The services that we offer

Advice and guidance, booklets, leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

The classes of information will not generally include:

• Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
• Information in draft form.
• Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available

The College will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained. Where it is within the capability of the College, information specified in the scheme will be provided on our website. Where it is impracticable to make information available on the website or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, the College will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means.

In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner is specified, contact details will be provided. An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where an authority is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the College for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.

Material which is published and accessed on our website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

• photocopying
• postage and packaging
• the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public. The charge for photocopying is 20p per sheet. Postage and packaging would be at cost.

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment will be requested prior to provision of the information.