Our publication scheme

The Freedom of Information Act ('the Act') was passed on 30 November 2000 and came into force in January 2005. It gives the public a right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, but also sets out exemptions from that right.

This Scheme has been prepared in accordance with Sections 19 and 20 of the Act and aims to fulfil the requirements of the Information Commissioner as set out in his model publication scheme for public authorities (V 1.0), supported by the Commissioner’s definition document for Wholly Owned Companies (V. 2).

This publication scheme comprises the publication schemes for Royal Mail Group Limited as a whole.
 

  • The company

    Royal Mail Group Ltd is wholly owned by the Government. Royal Mail is one of numerous competing postal operators licensed by Ofcom and subject to the requirements of regulation.  

    Further information about our brands and businesses can be found in 'Our businesses' section.

  • Classes of information

    In line with the requirements of the model publication scheme we publish information which falls into the following seven classes of information:

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

    These 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.
       

  • Access to information

    Annex 1 to this scheme lists the types of information that we currently publish or intend to publish in the future under headings that we think will be helpful to users, together with examples of material available under each heading and how this can be obtained. This annex together with the structured websites and their search facilities acts as a guide to the information available.

    We will continue to update the material shown in the Annex to this scheme and review it annually, or as directed by the Information Commissioner. Within the “Services we offer”’ class of information, we reserve the right to add from time to time publications about new products and services we may introduce for our customers, or to delete information about products and services that we have withdrawn.

    The information published in our publication scheme is available:

    • On our websites
    • From our branch offices
    • By request to our helplines or,
    • For selected historical material, from our archives.

  • Charges

    Information accessed directly from the websites is free of charge. Information made available in other ways may be subject to a fee. Where a fee is payable, this is indicated in the Annex.

    Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

    • Photocopying
    • Postage and packing
    • Costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

    Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme in accordance with our fees schedule. If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided.

    Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.
     

  • Finding information

    Information in our publication scheme is available from the following places:

    Websites:
    Royal Mail Group Ltd: www.royalmailgroup.com  
    Royal Mail: www.royalmail.com  
    Parcelforce Worldwide: www.parcelforce.com    

    Helplines:
    Royal Mail enquiries: 08457 740 740 (English and Welsh)
    Parcelforce Worldwide: 08708 50 11 50 (Welsh 08007 313428)
    Royal Mail Textphone for hearing impaired customers: 08456 00 06 06 (Welsh 08456 030800)
    Parcelforce Worldwide Textphone for hearing impaired customers: 08000 855857

    Archive:
    British Postal Museum and Archive
    Freeling House
    Phoenix Place
    LONDON
    WC1X 0DL

    Archive material listed in the scheme is available to view in person at the above address. Opening Hours: 10 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Closed Bank Holidays, Maundy Thursday afternoon and Christmas week. Extended opening to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Occasional opening on selected Saturdays – please contact the BPMA for details.

    Email: info@postalheritage.org.uk
    Telephone: 020 7239 2570
    Website: www.postalheritage.org.uk

    Copies of archive material: Please note that for conservation purposes, the Archivist may refuse to photocopy delicate items.
     

  • Responsibility for this scheme

    The Company Secretary of Royal Mail Group Ltd has overall responsibility for this scheme and the senior managers in charge of each of our business units are accountable for implementation within their units.

  • Comments and complaints about this publication scheme

    If you have any comments or complaints about the Royal Mail Group publication scheme, or if you feel we have not supplied information in accordance with the scheme, you should write in the first instance to:

    Head of Information Governance
    Royal Mail Group Ltd
    100 Victoria Embankment
    LONDON
    EC4Y 0HQ
    Email: foi@royalmail.com

    Further information on our complaints procedure. If, following an internal review, you are still dissatisfied then you may refer your complaint to the Information Commissioner at:

    Information Commissioner,
    Wycliffe House
    Water Lane
    WILMSLOW
    SK9 5AF

    Website: www.ico.gov.uk
    Helpline: 0303 123 1113
    Email: casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk
     

  • Copyright

    The provision of information by Royal Mail Group Ltd under this scheme does not imply a right to reproduce or publish such information. Reproducing material supplied under this scheme without the express permission of Royal Mail Group Ltd may be an infringement of copyright. Requests for permission to reproduce or publish any information provided under this scheme should be addressed to:

    Group IP & Copyright
    Mail Media Centre
    Stukely Street
    LONDON
    WC1V 7AB

    If permission is granted, it may be subject to a separate licence agreement, and the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged in any publication. We may charge a fee for supplying copies of copyright material for reproduction.

     

  • Written requests

    Information we hold that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act..

  • Annex

    Download the PDF Annex Guide to Information (PDF 66KB)