The Access to Personal Files and Medical Reports (Northern Ireland) Order 1991

Access regulations

5.—(1) The Northern Ireland department which is the relevant department in relation to an authority keeping records containing personal information which is accessible personal information may by regulations make such provision as it considers appropriate in relation to that authority for securing access by individuals to accessible personal information of which they are (or are treated as) the subjects and the rectification or erasure of inaccurate records containing such information.

(2) Regulations under this Article may, in particular, for those purposes—

(a) impose obligations on the authority to give access to accessible personal information in such manner as may be prescribed in the regulations;

(b) impose obligations on the authority to rectify or make erasures in records containing inaccurate information;

(c) provide for exemptions from or impose restrictions on access to informat ion or the rectification or erasure of inaccurate records;

(d) regulate the procedure for obtaining access to information or the rectification or erasure of inaccurate records;

(e) provide for decisions taken by the authority to be reconsidered or reviewed;

(f) authorise the authority to charge fees not exceeding the maximum prescribed in the regulations; and

(g) make incidental and supplementary provision including provision defining the corresponding obligation for the purposes of Article 3(2).

(3) The relevant department shall, before making regulations under this Article, consult such authorities or bodies representing authorities as it thinks appropriate.

(4) Regulations made under this Article shall be subject to affirmative resolution.