Dear All,
Yet more on the Environmental Information Regs. reviews.
A consultation from DEFRA has just been published - "Consultation on New
Draft Environmental Information Regulations on Public Access to
Environmental Information" - see
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/envinfo/index.htm. Closing date
for comments 4th October.
As noted in previous emails this review considers the the existing Env. Inf
regs, in light of the Freedom of Information Act and duties under the Aarhus
Convention (aka "UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public
Participation in Decision-making, and Access to Justice in Environmental
Matters").
For the record archaeology is broadly included in the new draft regs in
paragraph 2.g. as follows:
"2. ... "environmental information" means...
g) the state of human health and safety, conditions of human life, cultural
sites and built structures in as much as they are or may be affected by or
through anything mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a)
and (b);"
But perhaps best to read the whole definition to get an idea of the breadth
of what is covered.
The regs also set out requirements on topics/issues affecting public
authorities such as:
* obligations to make information available on request
* charging for information
* duties to provide information and assistance
* exceptions to the right for information
* clauses promoting proactive dissemination of information "with a view to
its active and systematic dissemination to the public, in particular by
means of computer telecommunication or electronic technology (or by both
means)".
* rights and processes of appeal and enforcement
The regs have clauses indicating they will not apply in Scotland - but a
reminder - the Scottish Executive's consultation on "Proposals for a new
regime on Public Access to Environmental Information"
(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/environment/paei-00.asp) closes 9th
August...
Hope this is of interest/use to you all.
Alex Hunt
Research and Conservation Officer
Council for British Archaeology
Tel: 01904 671417
Fax: 01904 671384
Web: http://www.britarch.ac.uk
|