Data protection and freedom of information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) gives a right of access to general information held by the Council. The exception is access to environmental information which is provided by the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs).

The Data Protection Act gives individuals rights over their personal data, and imposes obligations, known as the eight data protection principles, on organisations like the council. There are exemptions from both rights and obligations. The best known of the rights is that of access to one's own personal data, known as 'subject access'.