If an applicant believes that you have not complied with the Regulations in handling their request, for example because you have not made the information available, they can complain to you. Complaints are referred to in the Environmental Information Regulations as ‘representations’. The applicant must make the representations within 40 working days of the date on which they believe you failed to comply.
Under the Environmental Information Regulations, you are obliged to have a procedure in place for considering representations. You must complete the review and inform the applicant of the outcome as soon as possible and within 40 working days after receiving the representations.
Our guidance note on the EIR Code of Practice give further information about dealing with representations under the Regulations.
Under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations, any person who is unhappy with the way you have dealt with their request for review has the right to make a complaint to the ICO. We produced guidance about how the ICO deals with complaints made about public authorities.