Freedom of Information Act - Executive

Our full title and address for sending any documents is:Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive, 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool, L3 2AN.

The senior officer responsible for maintenance of this scheme is: Neil Scales, Director General.

1.Introduction: what a publication scheme is and why it has been developed

One of the aims of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (which is referred to as FOIA in the rest of this document) is that public authorities should be clear and proactive about the information they will make public. To do this they must produce a publication scheme, setting out:

The classes of information which they publish or intend to publish;

The manner in which the information will be published; and

Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.

The Executive’s publication scheme consists of information already published and held by the Executive or information which is to be published in the future. That means that all information in our publication scheme is either available for you on our website to download and print off, available electronically or in traditional document form. Information within the publication scheme will be available either free or at a charge – we explain which is free or which will be provided at a charge later in this scheme under item 7.

Some information which we hold may not be made public, for example information about national security orcourt records.

2.Classes of information published by the Executive

The publication scheme guides you to information which we currently publish (or have recently published) or which we will publish in the future – this is split into ‘classes’ of information.

The ‘classes’ of information currently published are contained in section 4 of this Scheme. Details of how the information is or will be published and any fees charged for information contained in the publication scheme are set out in section 6. below.

The classes in the scheme are grouped for ease of reference.

3.What we do: Functions of the Passenger Transport Executive in Merseyside

The Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (the Executive) is responsible for the co-ordination of public transport in Merseyside. It is accountable to the Integrated Transport Authority, which is made up of nominated elected members from the local authorities of Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley.

The Executive operates the Mersey Ferries and does not run any other transport services directly, it purchases rail and some bus services from private operators. It also provides region-wide information, manages the funding and administration of concessionary fares, provides bus stops and shelters and operates interchanges and travel shops or centres throughout the region. The Executive also has a number of subsidiary companies.

As well as operating these facilities it funds, promotes and manages transport initiatives ranging from rural bus services to major investments, such as Transport Interchanges.

The Executive’s primary goals are:

(i)To ensure that transport supports sustainable economic development and regeneration.

(ii)To moderate upward trend in car use and secure a shift to more sustainable forms of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport.

(iii)To secure the most efficient and effective use of the existing transport network.

(iv)To enhance the quality of life of those who live, work and visit Merseyside.

The Executive also:

Pays for socially necessary local bus services that cannot be provided commercially

Specifies, pays for, develops and monitors local rail services

Administers and funds a comprehensive concessionary fare scheme

Promotes equal access to public transport for all

Co-ordinates and promotes activities to achieve better integrated public transport services

Provides travel information

Administers the Prepaid Ticket Scheme on behalf of bus operators

Plans future investment in transport infrastructure and associated services.

Provides for Ferry and associated Services

Is responsible for Planning and Performance Management of the Executive and its functions

4. Classes of Information Currently Published

Relevance to Race Equality

Policies and Procedures /

Paper

Electronic

Web

Corporate

Information

/ Timetable Information
Journey Planner
Travel Centre Information
Press Releases
Executive Minutes Non Exempt Reports
Travel Generation
District Audit Report
District Audit Management Letter
Budgets/Accounts
Delegation To Officer
Allowances/Expenses Scheme
Contract Conditions
Health And Safety Policy
Bus Layover Policy [when available]
EU Contract Compliance Reports / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
/ X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Paper

Electronic

Web

Policy and Strategies

/ Interchange Strategy
Performance Plan
Public Transport Strategy
Environment Strategy
TravelSafe Strategy
TravelWise Strategy
Access Strategy
Anti-Smoking Policies
Comments Procedure
Education (Schools)
Local Transport Plan
Annual Progress Local Transport Plan
Race Equality Scheme
Whistle Blowing Policy
Gifts & Hospitality Policy
Information Strategy
Bus Strategy
Community Links Strategy
Park & Ride Strategy
Data Protection Policy
Health And Safety Policy
Branding Strategy
Recruitment and Retention Policy
Staff Welfare Policies
Right of Way Strategy
Freedom of Information Policy / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Paper

Electronic

Web

Operations/Services / Ferries-Cruises/Social Events
Rail Punctuality
Passenger Charter
Tendering Procedures
Structure Of Organisation
Opening Hours
Merseytravel Video
Press Releases
Market Research
Promotional Material
Park And Ride Schemes
Ticket Schemes
Travel News
Fares Prices And Charges
Crime Statistics
Drivers Handbook - Bus Station Procedures / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Information available on our website

Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive maintains a website at and has an ongoing commitment to make as much information available on our website as possible.

5.OtherUseful website addresses

The information you are looking for may also be available from the following organisations or on their websites.The websites listed below are an excellent source of information and if the documents are downloaded or printed off by the enquirer they provide a quick response at little cost.

However, the Executive takes no responsibility nor warrants the accuracy of information contained on the following sites:

-Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority –

-UK Online Government –

-Local Government Association (LGA) -

-Department for Transport - /pgr/regional

-Passenger Transport Executive Group –

6.Making an application for other Information to the Executive

As well as being able to access information which is publicly available under the Publication Scheme we will answer queries under the existing Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. This allows you to write and ask us to supply you with specific information.

Charges for Supplying Information

Information will be provided free where possible, however, in some cases a charge will be made to cover administration and copying as stated below. Those items which are commercially available will attract the relevant charge. All requests for information or queries should be addressed to the Freedom of Information Officer

Photocopying charges of 10p per page plus an administration fee plus postage.
The fees of external printers where the Executive does not have the equipment to copy large items
If the information can and is supplied electronically no charges will be levied

Staff time in locating or retrieving information at such hourly rate as it is fixed from time to time by the Secretary of State under the FOIA

Under the FOIA you will have the right to ask for information to be provided in a particular way and we will try to meet your request. You will be able to ask for assistance if you have any difficulty in formulating or making an application by contacting the Executive’s Information Officer. We will help you as much as possible but we may have difficulty in meeting your request unless we have:

a clear and understandable request with enough detail to locate the information;

your name and address so we can respond to your request; and

an indication about the form in which you want the information.

This will ensure that your application is dealt with as quickly as possible. You should give as much detail as you can in order to assist us in locating the information that you require. Some documents may include exempt information so you will only get the information which is not exempt. You only have a right to information and not necessarily to documents.

No charges will be made where a request for information is refused or a claim is lodged against a refusal to supply information.

These charges may be amended by legislative change arising from the FOIA Freedom of Information Act and or associated Regulations which may come into force from time to time.

You can also apply for a copy of the personal data we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998 - that is information relating to an applicant that has arisen through their employment with the Executive or information obtained about an individual through the Executive’s statutory functions. There is a fee of £10 and you should contact the Executive’s Senior Legal Officer, Anthony Fitzpatrick,at 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool, L32AN.

7.Applications for information after January 2005 under FOIA

From January 2005 you will be able to ask the Executive forinformation which is not already published elsewhere nor exempt under the FOIA. Under the FOIA you will have the right to ask for information to be provided in a particular way and we will try to meet your request. You will be able to ask for assistance if you have any difficulty in formulating or making anapplication by contacting the Executive’s Information Officer. We will help you as much as possible but we may have difficulty in meeting your request unless we have:

a clear and understandable request with enough detail to locate the information;

your name and address so we can respond to your request; and

an indication about the form in which you want the information.

Any fee charged will be calculated by looking at the costs directly and reasonably incurred locating the information you have asked for and giving it to you. You will then be sent a ‘fees notice’ which you will have to pay within three months of your request – you will not receive information until you have paid the costs in the fees notice.

If the estimated cost of providing the information would be above the appropriate limit set by the government then we will not be under a duty to provide the information. However, the Executive will inform you if the limit will be exceeded and we will try to let you know what can be provided within the limit. Despite not being obliged to provide information which exceeds the limit the Executive will still be under a duty to advise and assist.

In order to protect the Executive there will be rules which govern multiple applications for information which are clearly trying to avoid the financial limits set by the government. However, we will try to help you as much as possible to get the information you want.

8. Complaints and Feedback

If you want to make any comments about this publication scheme or if you require further assistance or need to make a complaint then initially this should be addressed to Anthony Fitzpatrick, Senior Legal Officer, at Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive, 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool, L3 2AN.

Any complaints or appeals against the decision of the Executive’s Information Officer will be dealt with by the Executive Legal and Administration Manager

If you are not satisfied with the assistance that you get from the Executive or if we have not been able to resolve your complaint and you feel that a formal complaint needs to be made then this should be addressed to the office of the Information Commissioner. This is the organisation that ensure compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and that deals with formal complaints. They can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Enquiry/Information Line:01625 545 745

E Mail: .

This document will be made available in other languages

or on audio cassette upon request.

CTTE/MISC/PTE-MODEL/CB/(LO)/SB

02.03.10