University Secretary
Legislation
The management of the University’s records is affected by a range of legislation. Many laws include specific requirements to create, maintain, update or publish records and, in some cases, stipulate the length of time for which they must be held. There are other pieces of legislation that do not contain explicit requirements to keep records but, unless the University does so, it will be unable to demonstrate that it has complied with the legislation. There are also various laws that affect the ways in which records may be used and to whom they may be released. Finally, a number of regulations and acts of parliament specify time limits for bringing legal action, and the University therefore needs to ensure that documents that may be valuable as evidence in disputes are retained for an appropriate length of time.
Examples of:
- laws that require information to be created
- laws that require information to be retained
- laws with which the University must be able to demonstrate compliance
- laws that affect the way information may be used or disclosed
- laws that specify time limits for taking legal action
1. Examples of laws that require information to be created, maintained or published
- Disability Discrimination (Public Authority) Statutory Duties Regulations 2005
- Employment Rights Act 1996
- Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) Order 2001
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authority) (Statutory Duties) Order 2006
2. Examples of laws that require information to be retained for a specific number of years
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
- Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance Regulations 1998
- Income Tax (Pay as You Earn) Regulations 2003
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1995
- Taxes Management Act 1970
- Value Added Tax Act 1994
- Working Time Regulations 1998
3. Examples of laws with which the University must be able to demonstrate compliance
- Charities Act 2006
- Disability Discrimination Act 2005
- Education Reform Act 1988
- Further and Higher Education Act 1992
- Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992
- Public Contract Regulations 2006
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
4. Examples of laws that affect the way in which information may be used, obtained or disclosed
- Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
- Data Protection Act 1998
- Environmental Information Regulations 2004
- Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Gender Recognition Act 2004
- Lawful Business Interception Regulations 2000
5. Examples of laws that specify time limits for taking legal action