Environmental Information (Disclosure)

HC Deb 22 January 1997 vol 288 cc646-7W

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on how the revised code of practice on access to Government information, second edition, published on 14 January, will affect the disclosure of environmental information. [11776]

Sir Paul Beresford

The revised code will not affect the disclosure of the environmental information. The code—like its predecessor—is non-statutory, and cannot override the existing statutory right of access to environmental information contained in the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.