The Information Rights Tribunal hears appeals from notices issued by the Information Commissioner under:

• Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
• The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)
• INSPIRE Regulations 2009 (INSPIRE)
• Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)
• Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation 2003 (PECR)
• Data Protection Monetary Penalty Regulations 2010 (DP Monetary penalties)

A panel composed of the Tribunal Judge and two other non–legal members, all appointed by the Lord Chancellor, hears appeals at venues across the United Kingdom. The oral hearings are open to the public.

If you would like to attend a hearing please refer to the Current cases page for further information, or contact the First–tier Tribunal (Information Rights) administrative offices.

When a Minister of the Crown issues a certificate on grounds of national security, the appeal must be transferred to the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal once the application is received by the First–tier Tribunal (Information Rights).

About the Information Rights Tribunal

Up until 17 January 2010 the Information Rights Tribunal was called the Information Tribunal (previously called Data Protection Tribunal) and was originally set up to hear appeals under the Data Protection Act 1984.

The tribunal continued to hear appeals after the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) came into effect, but was renamed the Information Tribunal when it's responsibilities were expanded and it began hearing other information appeals under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

The Information Rights Tribunal is now part of the First–tier Tribunal in the General Regulatory Chamber and is referred to as the First–tier Tribunal (Information Rights).

The Principal Judge of the Information Rights jurisdiction in the First-tier Tribunal is Professor John Angel and there are fifteen other Judges, namely:

• John Angel
• Andrew Bartlett QC
• Robin Callender–Smith
• Melanie Carter
• Anisa Dhanji
• David Farrer QC
• Angus Hamilton
• Fiona Henderson
• Christopher Hughes
• Brian Kennedy QC
• David Marks QC
• Alison McKenna
• Annabel Pilling
• Christopher Ryan
• Murray Shanks and
• Claire Taylor

All Information Rights Tribunal Judges are all solicitors or barristers with at least 7 years professional experience.

Who are the Tribunal Judges?  (PDF 0.4Mb)

There are currently 25 non legal members of the Tribunal. The appointment of non legal Tribunal members is based on their experience in matters dealt with by the Information Rights Tribunal, for example, because they have worked with data controllers or have represented data subjects.

Who are the non legal members? (PDF 0.3Mb)

User group

The aim of the information rights user group is to provide an opportunity for you to discuss matters relating to non case specific, operations and processes with representatives from the tribunals judiciary and administration. This helps to identify ways to improve the services provided to users.

The next user group will be on 17 April 2013 and will be held in Central London. If you are interested in attending please write to informationtribunal@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk.

• User Group Meeting Notes: meeting held on 10 April 2012 (PDF 0.5mb)
  
• User group meeting notes; meeting held on 15 March 2011 (PDF 0.5mb)
• User Group meeting notes Meeting held on 11 March 2010 (23kb)

Please note that expenses to and from user group meetings will not be reimbursed by the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights).