CaRT conceals information

ANOTHER complaint has been made to the Information Commissioner that Canal & River Trust (CaRT) has concealed information, including that showing that it is subject to Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).

The complaint follows one to CaRT (CaRT director under attack) that its legal director Nigel Johnson has failed to admit that the Trust is subject to EIR and ensure that the Trust properly considers requests for information under the regulations.

Two requests

Requests have been made to both the Information Commissioners and CaRT for information held regarding whether of not the Trust was subject to EIR.

The Commissioner produced many documents including decision notices, showing that CaRT is subject to the regulations.

CaRT, that holds similar information, concealed it by saying 'In fact there can be no "information" relevant to whether or not the Trust is subject to EIR because it is a simple matter of law that the Trust is not subject to EIR'.

The complaint

The complaint was made under Regulation 19 of Environmental Information Regulations. It holds that CaRT falsely claims that it is not subject to EIR. It also holds that CaRT has falsely claimed that it holds no information relevant to whether or not the Trust is subject to EIR.

Concealing information is an offence under EIR regulation 19. A person convicted of concealing information may be liable to a fine of up to £5,000.