Data Protection & Freedom of Information
The Data Protection Act 1998 applies to any organisation which holds and processes personal information about people. In particular organisations must register the purposes for which they process personal information ("Notify") and they must obey the data protection principles. The Act also provides people with a right to be told what information is held about them, and if it is factually incorrect to have it corrected or erased.
The
Freedom of Information Act 2000 is intended to
promote a culture of openness and accountability amongst public
authorities by providing people with rights of access to the information
held by them.
Each public authority must maintain a "publication scheme", setting out details of the information available, how it can be obtained and whether there is a charge.
In addition, under the Freedom of Information Act, any person making a request in writing for information to a public authority is entitled:
a) to be informed whether the authority holds information of that description,
b) if so, to have it communicated to them (unless an exemption applies)
Requests must be in writing, to
Freedom of Information,
Wealden District Council,
Vicarage Lane,
Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 2AX
The Council does not register or regulate other organisations in its area for data protection- this is done by the Government at
The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AP
Telephone: 01625 545 700
Email: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk