FOI and EIR Requests for Public Health in London

In London, England, requests for public health information can be made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). Which regime applies depends on whether the information is environmental in nature (EIR) or general recorded information held by a public authority (FOIA). Local councils, the Greater London Authority and public health bodies all handle requests for records they hold about public health services, reports, inspections and data. This guide explains time limits, how to make requests, enforcement and appeals routes you can use in London.

When to use FOI or the EIR

Decide which regime applies before submitting: EIR covers environmental information such as pollution, public health risks from the environment and data about environmental exposures; FOIA covers wider operational records, contracts, minutes and non-environmental health-service information. If in doubt, name the public authority and ask them to confirm which regime they will apply in their initial response.

Response Times and Deadlines

• EIR requests must be answered as soon as possible and no later than 20 working days from receipt.^[1]
• FOIA requests must be answered promptly and in any event within 20 working days under section 10 of the Act.^[2]
• If a public authority extends a deadline under a statutory exception or for consultation, it must explain the reason and expected time frame.

Penalties & Enforcement

Monetary fines for failure to comply with FOIA or EIR are not routinely set out on the primary legislation pages for information requests; specific monetary penalties are not specified on the cited pages for FOIA/EIR compliance and enforcement actions should be checked on the regulator page cited below.^[3]

• Non-monetary sanctions: the regulator may issue enforcement notices, practice recommendations and require disclosure where lawfully owed.
• Criminal offences: tampering with or altering records to avoid disclosure is an offence under the FOIA criminal provisions; see the Act for details.
• Enforcer: the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) handles complaints, enforcement and, where appropriate, prosecution referrals or other remedies.
• Inspection and complaint pathway: complain first to the authority in writing, then to the ICO if unsatisfied; the ICO provides complaint forms and guidance.
• Appeals: if the ICO upholds a decision you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights). Time limits for internal reviews and ICO complaints are outlined on the regulator and tribunal guidance pages; specific appeal deadlines are not specified on the cited FOIA/EIR pages.

Applications & Forms

There is no universal central form required to make an FOI or EIR request; most London public authorities accept emailed or postal requests and many publish an online request form. Charges and fees for copying or disbursements may apply under EIR and cost limits apply under FOIA; specific fees for an authority must be checked on that authority’s website or fee schedule and are not specified on the FOIA/EIR legislation pages.

How to make an effective request

• Address your request to the authority’s FOI/EIR contact or use their published online form.
• Be specific about dates, report titles, teams and the data fields you need to reduce refusal or time spent handling your request.
• State whether you are making the request under FOIA or the EIR, and provide a postal or email address for responses.
• If the authority offers a charging estimate, ask for a breakdown and whether a fee waiver is available.

FAQ

Can I request raw public health data from a London council?

Yes, if the council holds the data you can request it under FOIA or EIR; however, personal data is protected and may be redacted or withheld under data protection laws.

How long will it take to get a response?

Most authorities must respond within 20 working days under FOIA or the EIR, subject to valid extensions or consultations.

What if my request is refused?

You should receive a written refusal notice explaining the exception relied on and internal review options, then you can complain to the ICO and later appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

How-To

1. Identify the public authority that holds the information (local borough, GLA, NHS trust or UKHSA).
2. Draft a clear request describing the records, timeframe and preferred format.
3. Send the request to the authority’s FOI/EIR contact and keep proof of sending; note the date received.
4. If you do not receive a satisfactory response within 20 working days, ask for an internal review.
5. If internal review is unsatisfactory, complain to the ICO and consider appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

Key Takeaways

• FOIA and the EIR both use a 20 working-day target for responses, but which regime applies depends on the information type.
• Start with the authority’s published FOI/EIR contact details and keep records of your request.
• If refused, use the internal review, ICO complaint and Tribunal appeal routes in sequence.

Help and Support / Resources

• Greater London Authority - Freedom of Information
• City of London Corporation - Freedom of Information
• UK Health Security Agency - Access to information

1. [1] Environmental Information Regulations 2004, Regulation 5
2. [2] Freedom of Information Act 2000, Section 10
3. [3] ICO guidance on the Environmental Information Regulations and EIR practice