106Fee estimate

106 Fee estimate (1) The respondent to an access application may give the applicant a written estimate of the fee (if any) likely to be payable for information provided in response to the application (the fee estimate).

(2) If the fee estimate is that a fee is payable, the respondent must ask the applicant to confirm or vary the access application. (3) The respondent may suspend an access application if— (a) the respondent has taken all reasonable steps to contact the applicant about the fee estimate; and (b) either— (i) the respondent is unable to contact the applicant; or (ii) the applicant does not confirm or vary the application. (4) If the access application is suspended, the respondent must, in writing, tell the applicant— (a) that the application has been suspended; and (b) about the effect of subsection (5). (5) The respondent— (a) must decide the application if the applicant confirms or varies the application within 3 months after the request was made; but (b) need not deal further with the application if it is suspended under subsection (3) for 3 months or longer. (6) Subsection (5) (b) does not prevent the applicant from making another access application for the same information.