The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, at section 1, gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by Scottish Public Authorities, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on Public Authorities. From January 1st 2005 any person who makes a request to a Public Authority for information must be informed whether the Public Authority holds that information and, subject to certain exemptions, be supplied with that information. Section 1 comes into force on 1st January 2005.

In addition to the general right of access in section1, public authorities are required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out the classes of information they publish, or intends to publish, the manner in which it intends to publish the information and whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of a Publication Scheme is to ensure a significant amount of information is available without the need for a specific request. Publication Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness.

Under the legislation both Assessors, as statutory officials, and Valuation Joint Boards were required to have separate approved Publication Schemes in place by June 2004. The Publication Scheme for the Orkney and Shetland Valuation Joint Board has been updated with effect from 1st July 2009 .You may view these Publication Schemes by means of the links below.

	Publication Scheme for Orkney & Shetland Valuation Joint Board		Publication Scheme for Assessor for Orkney & Shetland