The Coal Authority Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

Last updated 20 July 2005

Contents

1. Background

2. Introduction

3. Procedures for Making Requests

4. Complaints Procedure

5. Formats and Fees

6. Classes of Information

7. Contacts

8. 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:-

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 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 638217

Fax:- 01623 423468

E.mail brianthornton@coal.gov.uk

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 638247

Fax:- 01623 622072

E.mail:- sallybrookshanahan@coal.gov.uk

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

Nottinghamshire

NG18 4RG

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 638217

Fax:- 01623 423468

E.mail brianthornton@coal.gov.uk

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)

• Production and Manpower Returns
• Coal Production since 1947 (PDF Format)
• Newsletters  

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. Contacts

The Coal Authority’s offices are situated at:-

The Coal Authority

200 Lichfield Lane

Berry Hill

Mansfield

Nottinghamshire

NG18 4RG

Switchboard telephone:- 01623 427162

Fax:- 01623 622072

E.mail thecoalauthority@coal.gov.uk

 

Mining Records Department

Telephone:- 01623 638233

Fax:- 01623 629100

 

Mining Reports Department

Telephone 01623 638229

Fax:- 01623 638338

Website:- www.coalminingreports.co.uk

8. Feedback

The Coal Authority welcomes any comments upon its publication scheme. Please email your comments to:-

sallybrookshanahan@coal.gov.uk

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