Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023

195 Access to historic environment records

(1) The Welsh Ministers must—

(a) make every historic environment record available for public inspection, and

(b) make available to a person wishing to inspect a historic environment record advice on or assistance with retrieving and understanding information provided in the record or accessed by means of the record.

(2) If—

(a) a person requests a copy of part of a historic environment record or of details accessed by means of such a record, and

(b) the Welsh Ministers consider that the request is reasonable,

the Welsh Ministers must provide the person with that copy or those details.

(3) If—

(a) a person requests the retrieval of information provided in a historic environment record or accessed by means of such a record, and

(b) the Welsh Ministers consider that the request is reasonable,

the Welsh Ministers must compile a document for the person containing the information.

(4) In assessing whether a request is reasonable for the purposes of subsection (2) or (3), the matters which the Welsh Ministers may take into account include any previous requests made by or on behalf of the person concerned.

(5) The Welsh Ministers may charge a fee for—

(a) providing advice or assistance under subsection (1)(b);

(b) providing a copy or details under subsection (2);

(c) compiling a document under subsection (3).

(6) A fee must be calculated by reference to the cost of providing the service to which the fee relates.