Your Personal Data Rights

The laws give you rights over how data about you is used. NatureScot must tell you about these rights and help you use them.

The rights are:

a) To be given information by organisations about why and how we use your data;

NatureScot will give you as much information as we can at the time we collect your data. We will explain what categories of data we hold about you (e.g. name, address, email), and we will tell you how we are using this data.

b) To see, and be given a copy of, data we hold about you;

This means you have the right to ask us what data we hold about you and how we use it. If you ask NatureScot for access to your personal data we will:

• Confirm we are using your data;
• Give you a copy of the data we hold; and
• Explain what data is held about you, why we’re holding it and how we are keeping it safe.

To make a request please write to the Data Protection Officer giving us your name and contact details and a description of the data you want to see. We will respond as soon as we can and by 30 days after your request at the latest. We might ask you to provide some form of identification so we don't give data about you to the wrong person by mistake.

We won't charge you a fee for providing you with the data.
 
We can make data available in other formats. Please contact the Data Protection Officer if you would like to discuss this option.

c) To ask to have incorrect or incomplete data corrected or completed;

NatureScot will correct errors or add information that explains the error within 30 days of you contacting us. If we have shared your data with any third parties, we will tell them about the mistake and correction. We will let you know that we have done this. You can also ask us to complete some data about you where we hold only part of it. And you can also ask us to stop using your data while we look into your corrections.

d) To ask us to delete data we hold about you;

If you think we are using your data when there is no reason to do so you can ask us to delete your data. For example, you applied for a grant some years ago and the conditions have been discharged. If we shared your data with another organisation we will tell them about the deletion of your data. We might not be able to delete your data in some cases, for example if we have a contract with you.

e) To ask us to stop using your data in certain ways;

If you think we are using your data in a way that doesn't follow the law, or if you have objected to your data is being used, you can tell us to stop using your data for certain tasks. We will consider your request and let you know if we can do this as soon as we can after your request. If we've shared your data with any other organisation, we will let them know you have asked us not to use your data in certain ways.

g) To object to your data is being used if there we have no grounds to use it;

If NatureScot is using your data to fulfil our public task you can object to us using it that way. Please write to us explaining your particular situation and how do you feel NatureScot use of your data is affecting you. We will tell you about this right when we collect your data. You can object to us sending marketing materials to you and we will stop as soon as possible.

Complaints

If you are not happy with how NatureScot is dealing with your rights, please write to the Data Protection Officer explaining your concerns.

If you are not happy with our response you can complain to the UK Information Commissioner (ICO). The Information Commissioner will carry out an investigation and let you know the outcome within a reasonable period. Contact www.ico.org.uk