Commentary on Sections Part 9 – Health and adult social care services: information Functions: information systems Section 257 – Requests under section 255: supplementary
1426.This section places a duty on the Information Centre to publish procedures for the making of requests for the collection or analysis of information and for reconsidering any requests that are refused. Subsection (3) allows the Centre to charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of establishing a system. Subsection (4) places a duty on a person considering making a request to consult the Centre before making that request, so that it can advise on options and methodology. The Centre must publish details of all requests (including mandatory requests) for information the Centre is required or decides to collect. This will help to inform any person considering making a request about existing collections and will help to avoid duplicate requests.