Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee

PUBLICATION SCHEME PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 19 OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

May 2004

INTRODUCTION

This is the Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee’s publication scheme drawn up under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 
 

The purpose of this publication scheme is to set out: 
 

• Classes of information we commit to publish as a matter of course
• How this information will be published
• Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.

About the Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee

The Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee (‘the Committee’) is an advisory non-departmental public body set up following a Ministerial commitment made during the passage of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 (the “Act”) through Parliament.  Its purpose is to advise the Secretary of State for Trade & Industry on the implementation of the Act (and the Chemical Weapons Convention (“CWC”) to which the UK is a State Party) by the National Authority (a directorate of the DTI).  The main work of the Committee is to assist the National Authority in implementing the Act and Convention in a manner which takes note of cost and resource concerns and without excessive regulation.  The full Terms of Reference for the Committee are available on our website (www.dti.gov.uk/non-proliferation/naac/) or can be supplied upon request.  The Committee is an advisory body and does not take decisions: it may, on occasion, ask the National Authority to report to it on specific issues.

The Committee consists of a chairman and 7 members, appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry through assessment under guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.  In common with other advisory committees, the membership consists of industry and academic representatives that have considerable experience and expertise in the field of toxic and highly toxic Chemicals.  The Committee, which is part time, meets twice a year for half a day and is unpaid.  The names of the Committee are already available on the website: appointments are also announced by means of Press Notices and in Hansard (if a Ministerial Statement is made).  The Secretariat comes from the DTI. 
 

Access to Information 
 

The information we commit to publishing under this scheme is available either on the DTI  website (http://www.dti.gov.uk/non-proliferation/naac/) or in hard copy from the DTI.  Publications are clearly marked to show their description, availability and cost where appropriate. Also see under Copyright section. 
 

It is the nature of the Committee’s work that its discussions are free and frank and therefore the minutes are prepared in such a way as to disclose the subjects debated, but not provide verbatim commentary identifying individual members.  The names of officials reporting to the Committee will be removed prior to information being released – however, the Department the official is from will be disclosed.  Copies of the agenda for each meeting will also be available.  Information provided by declarants under the Act and Convention is commercially sensitive and protected under UK law and international treaty obligations and is not disclosed to the Committee.  The Committee may be supplied with advance copies of UK papers which are then submitted to international organisations – copies of such documents will be made available after the date they are made public either through the website or upon request in paper format. 
 

The Committee may also be asked to advise the National Authority on specific papers or policy proposals.  Such papers will not be included on this scheme although they may be made available upon a request made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in accordance with the procedures outlined under those provisions.  Additionally, it is not the intention of the publication scheme to cover correspondence between the Chairman and the Head of the National Authority (or any other member of a government department).  Again, any such correspondence may be requested under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 
 
 

Copyright 
 

Different copyright restrictions apply to individual documents listed within the Publication Scheme.  Those that are available free of charge may be printed off or downloaded onto electronic, optical or similar storage media provided that such activities are for private research, study, or in-house use only.  If such material is to be copied or reproduced users are asked to ensure that the material is reproduced accurately and not in a misleading context, that the status of the material is identified and the source of the material acknowledged. 
 

Documents which are marked as having ‘Crown Copyright’ and which are priced documents cannot be copied or reproduced without permission.  Permission to do so must be obtained from the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.  Further information can be found on HMSO’s website (www.hmso.gov.uk). 
 

Format and Other Languages  
 

The Committee does not produce its documents in languages other than English.  However, at its discretion and subject to demand, information listed in the publication scheme may be made available in other languages or formats. 
 

Responsibility for the Publication Scheme