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The charity making life better by water

The publication scheme

Although we're a charity, and most charities are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we do have obligations in respect of all the statutory functions we carry out as part of our duties to care for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in England & Wales.

These pages will help you find the information you are looking for. They also offer advice you on how to make a request for information if you can't find what you're looking for within our publication scheme.

Until 2nd July 2012 British Waterways was the public corporation that cared for the 2,200-mile network of canals and rivers in England, Scotland and Wales. Within this publication scheme you will see that some documents relate to British Waterways and others to the Canal & River Trust.

Why does the Canal & River Trust have FOIA obligations?

The Canal & River Trust is one of the UK's newest charities, created in July 2012 as the successor to British Waterways. As a public body, British Waterways was subject to FOIA 2000 legislation and the Canal & River Trust has inherited these obligations in respect to its statutory duties.

This limited application of the FOIA excludes the broader charitable functions we carry out. It will also exclude bodies that merge with the Trust, unless the FOIA already applies or is made to apply to them at the point of merger.

Last Edited: 25 September 2015

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