Hearing back from us
You will receive a response to your request from the States of Jersey within 20 working days.
If you do not receive your response within 20 working days, email
Central FOI Unit and let us know.
Once information is issued to you in our response we may publish your anonymised request and response on our website.
Freedom of Information requests and responses
If you are not content with the response we send you, you should outline your concerns and request an internal review. You will find the contact details on your response email or letter.
We will then review your concerns and you'll be advised what to do next if you're still dissatisfied.
When can we say no?
We will always try to answer your FOI request however in some instances your request may be refused if the information you asked for falls under an FOI exemption.
Absolute exemptions
Any request for information that falls under an absolute exemption will not be released. Absolute exemptions are:
- court information
- information that may endanger national security or it is, or relates to, information received from intelligence organisations
- personal information>
- States Assembly Privileges
- information already available and accessible to you somewhere else (we will try to tell you where)
- confidential information
- other prohibitions or restrictions (where the legislation includes a non-disclosure provision)
Qualified exemptions
These are exemptions where a public interest test is applied.
This test helps decide if releasing the information is in the interest of the public. The information may be withheld if we consider that the public interest in withholding is greater than the public interest in releasing it.
Qualified exemptions are:
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anything that may endanger the health and safety of individuals
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legal professional privilege (as this protects confidential information between lawyers and their clients)
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commercial interests
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the economy
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policy formulation and development
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audit functions
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employment
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defence
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law enforcement
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international relations
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information intended for future publication (as long as the decision to publish is made before the FOI request is received)
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advice from the Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff or a Law Officer
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royal family communications and honours-related information