Tag Archives: Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations
Presentation of Oral Evidence to the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee
On 3 October 2019 Professor Colin Reid presented oral evidence to the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee regarding the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. This evidence was based on the project’s current findings, and focused on the connections … Continue reading
Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference 2019
On 3 September 2019 Professor Reid and Dr Whittaker presented on the emerging findings of the project at the Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference 2019 in Preston, United Kingdom. The presentation focused on discussing the aims and emerging findings … Continue reading
Power and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Holding information not available to others is a common way of exercising power, but it has special significance in the context of environmental issues. It is in this context that the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the Regulations) aims to … Continue reading
Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference 2019
On 3 April 2019 Dr Whittaker presented on the emerging findings of the project at the Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference 2019 in Leeds. The presentation focused on discussing the aims and emerging findings of the “Uncovering the Environment; The Use … Continue reading
Scottish Public Information Forum
On 25 March 2019 Dr Whittaker presented at the Scottish Public Information Forum in Greenock to various public interest groups, registered social landlords and the Scottish Information Commissioner. The presentation set out the aims of the “Uncovering the Environment; The … Continue reading
Why Do You Seek Access to Environmental Information?: Motives and the Right of Access to Environmental Information
The primary aim of the right of access to environmental information is to enhance how the public participates in environmental decision-making procedures in order to improve the decisions taken by public authorities on the environment. However, evidence gathered by the … Continue reading
Proactive Disclosure of Environmental Information in Scotland: Part I
In Scotland, the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 are the most visible legislative instrument implementing the right of access to environmental information. The most visible aspect of the Regulations is how it imposes an obligation on public authorities to disclose … Continue reading
Exceptions and Conflict under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations: Part II
In the previous post I analysed how often Scottish public authorities applied the exceptions contained within the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. I identified that Scottish public authorities, contrary to public belief, usually disclose environmental information on request and rarely … Continue reading
Exceptions and Conflict under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations: Part I
In responding to requests for environmental information under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, Scottish public authorities are entitled to refuse to disclose the requested information. However, public authorities can only do so if the request falls within one of … Continue reading
A Distinction Without a Difference? The Parallel Information Regimes in Scotland
In Scotland there are two regimes which guarantee the right to request access to information. The first of these is the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EI(S)R), whose origins predate the wider freedom of information laws in the UK and … Continue reading