How to make a request to central DfT

This guidance explains how to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations or, if you want to request personal information that we may hold about you, the Data Protection Act.

Requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or the Environment Information Regulations (EIR)

Requests under the FOIA must be made in writing, e.g. letter, email or fax. Requests under the EIR can also be made verbally, e.g. over the phone. You should include the following with both types of request:

• your name and address (physical or electronic) for correspondence;
• a clear statement of the information you are requesting;
• a contact telephone number in case we need to discuss your request;
• the form in which you wish to receive your information.

In addition to a central policy organisation the DfT is made up of six Executive Agencies. We are all one "public authority" for the purposes of the FOI Act. If you think the information you are seeking is likely to be held by a specific part of DfT you may write to them direct. If in doubt, write to central DfT and we will forward your request as necessary.

Whichever part of DfT manages your request we will ensure that information is reviewed across our organisation, and that you receive a full response.

Central DfT

If you are making your request by letter or email (remember FOI Act requests have to be made in writing) we would encourage you to use the FOI request form. Please use either the online FOI request form or the PDF version available from the foot of this page if you want to send your request by post.

If you require advice or assistance in making a request please contact:

Enquiry Service
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Tel: 020 7944 8300.

If you wish to email your request please use the contact details provided for the following subject areas:

Access for Disabled People
Aviation
Freight Logistics
Railways
Road Safety
Roads and Vehicles
Shipping & Ports
Sustainable Travel
Transport Statistics

If the email contacts provided above are not relevant to your request, please send it to foi-advice-team-dft@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Postal requests:

Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR

Requests under the Data Protection Act

You can find out if we hold any personal information about you by making a “subject access request” under the Data Protection Act (DPA).  If we do hold information about you we will:

• give you a description of it
• tell you why we are holding it
• tell you who it could be disclosed to
• and let you have a copy of the information in an intelligible form. 

To help us give you the information you want, we need you to tell us which part of our Department you have been dealing with and why you believe we hold that information.  If you think the information is held by one of our agencies, you should send your request direct to that agency. 

To make a request to central DfT, please send your Subject Access Request to the:

Data Protection Officer
Department for Transport
D/04, Ashdown House
Sedlescombe Road North
St Leonards on Sea
East Sussex, TN37 7GA

You will need to provide two forms of identification (e.g. passport, driving licence).

If you prefer, you may email your request to Informationhandling@dft.gsi.gov.uk but we would also need you to post your proof of identification to the above address.   We regret we are unable to accept requests by telephone.

We will then aim to complete your request within 40 days of us receiving sufficient information for us to locate your personal data.