21.1 Each Authority acknowledges that all of the Authorities are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("FOIA") and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 ("EIR") and each Authority shall where reasonable assist and co-operate with any other Authority (at their own expense) to enable that other Authority to comply with these information disclosure obligations.
21.2 Where an Authority receives a request for information under either the FOIA or the EIR in relation to information which it is holding on behalf of any of the other Authorities in relation to the Project, it shall (and shall procure that its consultants and/or sub-contractors shall):
21.2.1 transfer the request for information to the other Authority as soon as practicable after receipt and in any event within two (2) Business Days of receiving a request for information;
21.2.2 provide the other Authority with a copy of all information in its possession or power in the form that the Authority requires within ten (10) Business Days (or such longer period as the Authority may specify) of the Authority requesting that information; and
21.2.3 provide all necessary assistance as reasonably requested by the other Authority to enable the Authority to respond to a request for information within the time for compliance set out in the FOIA or the EIR.
21.3 Where an Authority receives a request for information under the FOIA or the EIR which relates to the Agreement or the Project, it shall inform the other Authorities of the request for information as soon as practicable after receipt and in any event at least two (2) Business Days before disclosure and shall use all reasonable endeavours to consult with the other Authorities prior to disclosure and shall consider all representations made by the other Authority in relation to the decision whether or not to disclose the information requested.
21.4 The Authorities shall be responsible for determining in their absolute discretion whether any information requested from them under the FOIA or the EIR:
21.4.1 is exempt from disclosure under the FOIA or the EIR; or
21.4.2 is to be disclosed in response to a request for information.
21.5 Each Authority acknowledges that the other Authorities may be obliged under the FOIA or the EIR to disclose information:
21.5.1 without consulting the other Authority where it has not been practicable to achieve such consultation; or
21.5.2 following consultation with the other Authorities and having taken their views into account.