Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (Northern Ireland)
Publications Scheme
All public authorities including Government Departments and advisory bodies like the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board are required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. The Publication Scheme must specify
- class of information which the Board publishes or intends to publish
- the manner in which the information is or is intended to be published and
- whether the material is or is intended to be made available to the public, free of charge and in payment of the fee.
The purpose of this Publication Scheme is to identify all classes of information, which are (or will be) published so that the information is readily available to the public, and to inform the public of the extent of material that is available.
By readily available, we mean that information is available on the Department for Social Development website or may be obtained directly from the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board.
The Publication Scheme lists the classes of information which are included, indicating where appropriate whether some information may be exempt, how the information is or will be provided and whether a charge will be made for providing it. When you receive the information requested it will show where information had been withheld and explain what exemption has been applied and why. The documents listed will be the current versions.
The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board holds no information regarding individual customers.
The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board for Northern Ireland was established on 1 January 1992. Its function set out in legislation are
- to give advice to the Department on such matters as it may refer to them for consideration.
- to give advice to the Departments Medical Officers on any case or question referred by them to the Board; and
- to present an Annual Report of its activities over the year to the Department.
The Board must consist of a Chairman and at least 11 members and not more than 20, the current composition is of a Chairman and 14 members. The Board is supported by a small secretariat consisting of the Secretary to the Board and an Administrative Officer who work on a part-time basis to support the Board. The Board has no responsibility for any finances.
Responsibility for the Publication Scheme The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board has overall responsibility for its Publication Scheme.
The person responsible for maintaining the Publication Scheme on a daily basis is the Secretary. Any requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act should be directed in the first instance to:
The Secretary Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board Castle Court Royal Avenue Belfast BT1 1DF Telephone: 028 9033 6916 Fax: 028 9054 2112 Email: martin.Donnelly@dwp.gsi.gov.ukAny information already on the Department for Social Development website can be downloaded free of charge.
Charging for PublicationsThe information listed in the Publication Scheme is generally available free of charge. Where multiple copies are requested or alternative formats the Board may charge to use that service if costs are incurred. If you wish to receive the documents by email you should include your email address.
Complaints about the Publication SchemeIf you think the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board has not supplied information in accordance with the Publication Scheme then you should write in the first instance to
The Secretary Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board Castle Court Royal Avenue Belfast BT1 1DF Telephone: 028 9033 6916 Fax: 028 9054 2112 Email: martin.Donnelly@dwp.gsi.gov.ukIf after the investigation of your complaint you remain dissatisfied, you may ask the matter to be internally reviewed. The Board will arrange for the complaint to be investigated by a more senior staff member that that who dealt with the original request for information. The official will be independent in that they will not have been involved in the original request for information. If you are still dissatisfied you may refer your complaint to the Information Commissioner.
The Board aims to deal with investigation of complaints within 20 working days and to complete internal reviews within 20 working days.
The Information CommissionerResponsibility for enforcing the Freedom of Information Act rests with the Information Commissioner who is an independent public official responsible directly to Parliament/The Northern Ireland Assembly. The Commissioner’s role is to:-
- Promote good practice
- Approve and assist in the preparation of Publication Schemes
- Provide information about the public’s rights under the Act and
- Enforce compliance Publication Schemes
- Provide information about the public’s rights under the Act and
- Enforce compliance with the Act.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner Whitecliff House Water Lane Winslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Information Line: 016 2554 5745 Switchboard: 016 2554 5700 Fax: 016 2552 4510 Email: Mail@dataprotection.ukWebsite: http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk 
Review of the Publication SchemeThe Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board will review the Publication Scheme on 1 December 2006 and annually thereafter.
Classes of information published- Annual Report - The Board publishes its Annual Report for the period 1 April to 31 March. The Board’s report is usually published by December of the following year.
- Papers completed by the Board - Any papers published by the Board during the term of the Annual Report are included in or referred to as Appendices in its Annual Report. The Board’s Annual Report is available on the publications section of this website. (Where the papers are not included in the Appendices of the Annual Report a contact is provided should anyone like a copy of the definitive paper.)
- Agendas and Minutes - The Board normally has 4 full Board Meetings per year. Agendas and minutes are available on request.
- Code of Practice - Published in 2002/2003 Annual Report available on this website.
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