UEA 'failed to comply with data requests'

29 Jan 2010

A university which came under fierce scrutiny over leaked emails about climate change has received fresh criticism, as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it refused to comply with requests for scientific data.

Freedom of Information rules were broken by the University of East Anglia (UEA) as it mishandled the requests of climate sceptics. However, the complaint was not made in time for action to be taken.

Emails stolen from the UEA's Climatic Research Unit and posted online in November showed that "requests made under the Freedom of Information Act were not dealt with as they should have been under the legislation". the ICO said.

The hacked emails sparked an international furore when they surfaced shortly before the Copenhagen summit.

It was claimed the messages showed scientists at the unit had been manipulating data to support a theory of man-made global warming.

Meanwhile, former civil servant Sir Muir Russell is heading an independent review which will examine the way the freedom of information requests were handled.

The ICO said although it was clear a breach of FOI rules had occurred it was unable to act against those involved because a six-month limit for prosecutions had elapsed.

Breaches of the Act can carry unlimited fines. It is understood the ICO is seeking to change the law to allow prosecutions if complaints are made more than six months after rules are flouted.