Privatisation is no bar to public accountability

摘要

What is a 'public authority' when it comes to requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)? Two recent decisions by the information commissioner suggest many private companies performing public services fall within the definition. In the first case, requested by Fish Legal in relation to the Rampion offshore wind farm, the commissioner held that electricity supplier E.ON UK Pic was a public authority under regulation 2(2)(c) of the EIR (29 January 2020, FER0678164). In the second case, the commissioner came to the same conclusion regarding airport operator Heathrow Airport Ltd (3 February 2020, FER0844872).