Privacy and your data rights
Here you can find information on how the Woodland Carbon Code team at Scottish Forestry handles your personal information.
Why collect personal data?
We only collect information we need. We use this to:
- make site improvements;
- respond to your queries;
- send newsletters you've subscribed to;
- publish your comments on our pages; and
- improve our service.
Authorised Scottish Government staff, agencies and public bodies can view this data. You can view our personal information charter.
What's collected?
We collect different types of information for different reasons. This includes:
Website visits
We use Google Analytics, a third-party service, to understand how you use our website. We do this using cookies and page tagging. No one is identified using the information we gather, and we hold onto it for 38 months. We only share this with essential users at the Scottish Government and the private company that helps us manage our website.
Videos and Social Media Plugins
Our website displays some videos and social media tools that are managed by companies like YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook. These platforms capture certain data about how they are used. As we don’t manage those platforms ourselves, your use is subject to their own privacy policies. These providers make certain data available to us, so that we understand how you use them on our website, but we don’t share that information with anyone outside of Scottish Forestry.
Other websites
Sometimes we link to other websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any external websites you visit from our pages.
Queries and feedback
If you contact us with a query or feedback, via email, social media or in our website comments, we collect your email address and other personal information contained in the message. We might pass this on to other authorised people within the organisation so we can help you.
Newsletter subscriptions
We use MailChimp, a third-party service, to send email newsletters you've signed up to receive. We collect your name, email address and subscription preferences, and which emails you open. This helps us to improve the newsletter content and format. You can choose to unsubscribe at any time by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link in the newsletter.
When you unsubscribe, it’s important that we retain your data to be sure we have a record of your subscription changes. It’s also important that we don’t delete your data without your consent. If you would like us to delete your data, you can ask us to.
Your data rights
You can access information we hold about you through a Subject Access Request (SAR).
If you think our data is incorrect, you can ask us to update it. You have the right to ask for any personal information we hold to be deleted.
Sometimes we cannot comply with your request. Some rights can only be applied in certain circumstances. Find out more about your rights on the Information Commissioner's site.
Contact us by email or post:
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Data Protection, Woodland Carbon Code, Scottish Forestry, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD
Complaints
If you're not happy with how we've handled your information rights request, you have the right to complain. You can make your concern known to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). You can find more information on your rights on the ICO website.
We are committed to providing high-quality services. We value complaints and use information from them to help us improve. If something goes wrong or you are dissatisfied with our services, please tell us by email or post:
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Woodland Carbon Code, Scottish Forestry, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD
Please provide the following information:
- your full name and contact details;
- as much as you can about the complaint;
- what has gone wrong; and
- how you want us to resolve the matter.
Our complaints procedure
Our complaints handling procedure guide provides full details of our complaints procedure in Scottish Forestry and how to make a complaint. It also tells you what you can expect from us and how to escalate your complaint if you're dissatisfied with the results of our complaints procedure.
Following making a complaint, your correspondence will be acknowledged and a response provided to you in line with our complaints procedure.
What if I'm still dissatisfied?
If, having gone through our complaints procedure, you are still dissatisfied you can appeal to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). For full details about this, please consult our complaints handling procedure guide.
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act Scotland (FOIS) gives you the right to access information held by us. The Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs) give you a similar right to ask us for environmental information. You do not have to mention this legislation in your request.
Anyone can request information – there are no restrictions on your age, nationality or where you live.
In processing your request, we are complying with a statutory Freedom of Information obligation. In order to do so, we need your full name and a contact address (postal or email address).
How to request information
To request information you can:
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.t
- Write to: Scottish Forestry, National Office, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD
Your request must include:
- your full name;
- a contact address - this can be a postal or email address; and
- a description of the information you want
If possible, please provide a daytime telephone number so we can contact you if we have any questions about your request.
You can ask for information in a particular format, such as paper or electronic copies.
You can find out more about your right to access information at the Scottish Information Commissioner website.
Costs
We don't charge for answering information requests.
When you'll get a response
You should receive a response from us promptly and within 20 working days.
If we can't give you the information
Our aim is to provide information whenever possible. If we don't hold the information or we believe there is a good reason to withhold it, we will explain why in our response.
We may also refuse your request if it will cost us more than £600 to find and provide the information.
If you are unhappy with our decision or how we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review this. If you are still not happy you can appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner.