Home Information Resources The Coal Authority Freedom of Information Publication Scheme
(Last updated 5th December 2005)
Contents:
1. Background
2. Introduction
3. Procedures for Making Requests
4. Complaints Procedure
5. Formats and Fees
6. Classes of Information
7. Information Available for Re-Use
8. Contacts
9. Feedback
1. Background
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 "FOI Act" became law on 30 November 2000. The FOI Act creates new rights of access to information and is intended to supersede the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which came fully into force on 1 January 2005.
The FOI Act establishes a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities and imposes obligations on public authorities to disclose information subject to a range of exemptions. The FOI Act also establishes the arrangements for enforcement and appeal.
2. Introduction
The Publication Scheme aims to meet one of the principal aims of the FOI Act namely that public authorities should be clear and pro-active about the information they will make public. Accordingly, the scheme sets out:-
-
the classes of information the Coal Authority publishes or intends to publish
-
the manner in which they will be published, and
-
whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.
Details of formats and fees for documents are set out in Section 5.
The classes of information are specified in Section 6 of this scheme.
The classes of information in the scheme are based on information type, which should be meaningful to users and require no knowledge of the Coal Authority’s organisational structure in order to navigate around the scheme.
3. Procedures for Making Requests
Effective from 1 January 2005 the FOI Act gives applicants two related rights:-
- the right to be told whether the information they seek exists
- the right to receive the information and, where possible, in the manner requested including the right for the applicant to inspect a record.
The Coal Authority acknowledges that the FOI Act is fully retrospective.
Applications under the FOI Act should be put in writing and should provide as much detail as possible to enable the information sought to be identified. Requests should be addressed to:-
| Brian Thornton |
| Records Manager |
| The Coal Authority |
| 200 Lichfield Lane |
| Berry Hill |
| Mansfield |
| Nottinghamshire |
| NG18 4RG |
| Direct dial telephone:- 01623 637217 |
| Fax:- 01623 423468 |
E.mail:-
|
The Authority will respond to requests for information which does not involve the consideration of a qualified exemption within 20 working days from the date of receipt. The Coal Authority’s charges for dealing with standard requests and supplying information are included in Section 6.
4. Complaints Procedure
The FOI Act sets out a series of exemptions to protect confidential or other information where disclosure may prejudice the interests of the State or third parties. Where the Coal Authority considers that information it holds is exempt from disclosure, that decision is subject a review process.
Where an applicant is dissatisfied with the response from the Coal Authority a request for an internal review of that decision can be made. A member of staff who was not involved with the original request will undertake the review which must normally be completed before an appeal may be made to the Information Commissioner. The request for an internal review should be made in writing to:-
| Sally Brook Shanahan |
| Solicitor and Secretary |
| The Coal Authority |
| 200 Lichfield Lane |
| Berry Hill |
| Mansfield |
| Nottinghamshire |
| NG18 4RG |
| Direct dial telephone:- 01623 637247 |
| Fax:- 01623 622072 |
E.mail:-
|
If the applicant remains dissatisfied then an independent review can be sought from the Information Commissioner following application in writing to:-
| The Information Commissioner |
| Wycliffe House |
| Water Lane |
| Wilmslow |
| Cheshire |
| SK9 5AF |
| Telephone:- 01625 545700 |
| Fax:- 01625 545510 |
5. Formats and Fees
The Coal Authority has established arrangements for the supply of Mining Reports and Mining Records. Details of the applicable charges are included in this Publication Scheme at Section 6.
Copies of most items in this publication scheme can be ordered free of charge from the Coal Authority, except where indicated. You should send your request with sufficient information in order to aid identity to:
| Brian Thornton |
| Records Manager |
| The Coal Authority |
| 200 Lichfield Lane |
| Berry Hill |
| Mansfield |
| Nottinghamshire |
| NG18 4RG |
| Direct dial telephone:- 01623 637217 |
| Fax:- 01623 423468 |
| E.mail:-
|
Other items in the publication scheme are electronic documents and can be downloaded free of charge from our website www.coal.gov.uk Items in PDF Format which require Adobe Acrobat to read them are indicated.
6. Classes of Information
Documents in PDF Format require Adobe Acrobat Reader
Organisation, Structure and Corporate Information
Industry Information UK and EU Grant Aid
Cleaner Coal Technologies
Property Services
Licensing
Coal Authority Model Documents (PDF Format)
Subsidence
Mining Records
Please note that the Coal Mine Abandonment Plans are already made accessible to the public under arrangements made pursuant to the Coal Industry Act 1994 and described in the
notes.
Consequently those plans are not included in this Publication Scheme.
Mining Reports
Environmental Information
Health and Safety
Surface Hazards
Finance
Contracts
Human Resources
Records
Important Note
The Authority does NOT hold the following information:
-
Information relating to the Miners’ strikes
-
Personal, Training and Claim files relating to former employees of the National Coal Board / British Coal Corporation
Enquiries about such information should be addressed to the Department of Trade and Industry - www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth
7. Re-use of public information
The Authority will provide public third-parties with information extracts from its coal mining database for the purpose of engineering, technical or academic studies. Standard conditions of supply are applicable.
8. Contacts
The Coal Authority’s offices are situated at:-
| The Coal Authority |
| 200 Lichfield Lane |
| Berry Hill |
| Mansfield |
| Nottinghamshire |
| NG18 4RG |
|
Switchboard telephone:- 01623 637000
|
| Fax:- 01623 622072 |
| E.mail thecoalauthority@coal.gov.uk |
| Mining Records Department |
| Telephone:- 01623 637233 |
| Fax:- 01623 629100 |
9. Feedback
The Coal Authority welcomes any comments upon its publication scheme. Please email your comments to:-
or post them to:-
| Sally Brook Shanahan |
| Solicitor and Secretary |
| The Coal Authority |
| 200 Lichfield Lane |
| Berry Hill |
| Mansfield |
| Nottinghamshire |
| NG18 4RG |
For information about Freedom of Information in general, please contact the Information Commissioner’s office or log onto the website at www.dataprotection.gov.uk
|
Text only
Site map
