sources of information

The Publication Scheme

You can also access information through our Publication Scheme. This sets out what information we make available through the Publication Scheme, classified by type, including how to access this information.

Further Information is available here.

The Information Asset Register

You can access some of our information through the Information Asset Register (IAR).

The IAR features mainly unpublished information such as databases. You can use the IAR to find out what information HS holds and how to access it.

We are responsible for creating records for our own asset register. These are submitted to the central IAR at the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) which covers all government departments and other crown bodies.

Our records

HS follows the policy and procedures set out in the Scottish Government Records Management Manual, which is available under this Publication Scheme, and the Code of Practice on Records Management under section 61 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act.


To comply with public records legislation we have a Record Retention and Disposal Schedule (RRDS) for all records we create and hold. The RRDS sets out the length of time we will hold each record.

This means that even though FoI is retrospective, it will only be possible to provide copies of our documents that are still in existence.