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Charging

15.—(1) A public sector body may charge for allowing re-use.

(2) The total income from any charge shall not exceed the sum of —

(a)the cost of collection, production, reproduction and dissemination of documents; and

(b)a reasonable return on investment.

(3) Any charges for re-use shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be calculated—

(a)in accordance with the accounting principles applicable to the public sector body from time to time; and

(b)on the basis of a reasonable estimate of the demand for documents over the appropriate accounting period.

(4) A public sector body shall not charge an applicant for costs incurred in respect of activities mentioned under paragraph (2)(a) in respect of a request for re-use, if the same applicant had been charged in respect of those same activities by that public sector body for access to the same document under information access legislation.

(5) Where a public sector body charges for re-use, so far as is reasonably practicable, it shall establish standard charges.

(6) A public sector body shall specify in writing the basis on which a standard charge has been calculated if requested to do so by an applicant.

(7) Where a standard charge for re-use has not been established, the public sector body shall specify in writing the factors that will be taken into account in calculating the charge if requested to do so by an applicant.