The Coal Authority is a member of the Intra-Governmental Group for Geographic Information (IGGI).

The Coal Authority fully endorses the IGGI Geographic Charter Standard Statement.

The Coal Authority endorses the following statement in compliance with the points contained in the charter:

1. Consult Users when preparing specifications or drafting legislation for the collection of data.

The Authority consults customers and stakeholders when preparing specifications for the collection of data.

2. Provide information about what data are available

Guidance notes for the provision of the services are maintained through the major customer base. The information is available on the Authority's web site at www.coal.gov.uk. The Authority also provide a help line service (tel: 0845 7626848). More details are available on the Authority's web site.

3. Provide clear statements on the price of data

Service charges are available on the Authority web site, through the help line service and are mailed directly to existing customers before being changed.

4. Make data available, unless there specific reasons for not doing so, in which case those reasons should be explained

The Authority provides information to the public in line with the requirements of the Coal Industry Act 1994. The Authority seeks to provide its information subject to confidentiality constraints and availability.

5. Ensure that data adhere to British, European or International Standards or Classifications, unless there are specific reasons for not doing so, in which case those reasons should be explained

At present there are no British, European or international standards that relate to the geographic information held by the Authority. The Authority will consider any such standards as they become available and adopt them if considered appropriate.

6. Deliver data in standard digital, or other, formats wherever possible

The Authority provides information in paper and digital format. Information is provided in a standard format and can be provided in other commonly used formats where required.

7. Supply accompanying documentation with data to enable users to judge the fitness for any particular purpose

The Authority has metadata for its geographic information. This information can be provided to users of the information.

8. Consult users before the destruction of any data set, subject to the prior guidance of the Public Records Office

The Authority looks to maintain all its geographic information without recourse to its destruction. However, the Authority is governed by the requirements of the PRO in relation to the destruction of records.

9. Publish a contact point to deal with all enquiries

The Authority provides details of contacts through its help line service and the web site.

10. Provide information about how users can complain if they are not satisfied with the service they receive

Information on how to make a complaint is provided through the help line service. The Authority operates a formal complaints procedure.