requesting information.....

[chatee]

hiya,
can anyone tell me what is the difference between " a freedom of information " request and a " data subject access request" and how it is processed and presented to me please

thanks

In its most basic form, I was under the impression that you can only ask for a "data subject access request" if YOU are the actual data (e.g. requesting information that is held about YOU and you only).

Freedom of information requests can be anything - e.g. if you didnt get into a school and want to know what criteria the children about you got in under etc.

*above, not about. sorry.

You can make a freedom of information request to any public sector organisation. That includes government departments, local authorities, hospitals, doctors, schools, universities, the police and many other organisations. You can ask for any information at all, including asking them what information they hold about you. They usually have to provide the information requested within 20 working days, although they can take longer provided they warn you and explain the reasons for the delay. They may withhold some of the information but, if they do, they have to tell you why. In general a freedom of information request doesn't cost anything although they are allowed to make a small charge to cover photocopies or postage. Your request can be refused if it will cost too much for them to get the information you have asked for.

You can make a data subject access request to any organisation (public or private sector) that holds personal information about you. You are asking them for a copy of all the information they hold related to you. If you make a request the organisation must comply. They can charge you up to £10 for the information or £50 for non-electronic medical records. There are, of course, a few circumstances in which the request can be refused or the information supplied may be incomplete. You won't, for example, find out if the police have you as a suspect in a major crime from a subject access request.

I am requesting info about my dc held by the local county council-so which is the better?
or is it the fact that it has been overlooked and by doing a data request they will manage to present the information to me within the timeframe

thanks for the explaining Beb and prh47bridge

It may depend how old your DC is.

Is your DC old enough to make his/her own request for the data?

no- still a minor

Have a look at your councils web site. It will probably explain how and who to apply to. Make a data subject access request.