Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act (ACT XVI of 2008) aims to establish a right to information held by public authorities in order to promote added transparency and accountability in government.
2. Functions and Responsibilities:
The Lands Authority is responsible for the management of Government’s immovable estate. The mission of the Lands Authority is to promote and maintain the highest and best use of Government’s immovable estate and to ensure an equitable process for the acquisition of property that may be required for public purpose.
3. General Description of the Categories of Documents available at the Lands Authority published by virtue of Article 17 of the Freedom of Information Act (Cap 496)
- Paper/Electronic correspondence relating to government property.
- Administrative and Official files
- Legislation concerning the Lands Authority.
- Parliamentary Questions and pertinent replies concerning the Lands Authority.
- Parliamentary Resolutions
- Eviction Order Notices
- Legal Notices
- Property drawings of government owned tenements.
- Lease Agreements and Contracts drawn up on government tenements
- Compensation Contracts drawn on Expropriated Property
- Personal files of employees and attendance sheets
- Annual Reports
- Minutes of Meetings – Tender Committee
- Control Committee
N.B. Some of the information listed above is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (Cap. 496)
4. Description of Manuals, docs which contain policies, principles, rules or guidelines.
A list of the Authority’s policies can be found on Guidelines & Policies – Lands Authority.
5. Statement of the information that needs to be available to members of the public who wish to obtain access to official documents from the public authority, which statement shall include particulars of the officer or officers to whom requests for such access should be sent.
The FOI officers of the Lands Authority may be contacted by e-mail [email protected] or by telephone 22953174 / 22953397.
FOI Requests may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], through the FOI Portal https://foi.gov.mt/ via the e-ID or through the online form.
6. Internal Complaints Procedures
An applicant whose request for information is refused, or who is not satisfied with the information provided, its format or the extension of the deadline for the submission of the requested information, may address a complaint to Authority’s FOI officer. The complaint, on the relative form, will be received by Authority’s FOI officer. The latter will forward complaint to the Chief Executive Officer and reply will be forwarded within 10 working days from the receipt of the complaint, also informing applicant that he or she may appeal or address complaint to the Information and Data Protection Commissioner. Applicant will also be informed of decision taken regarding his or her complaint and reasons thereof.
Complaints may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], through the FOI Portal https://foi.gov.mt/ via the e-ID or through the online form.
7. Other Information
Payments
Cheque payments payable to the Lands Authority will be accepted by the FOI Officer, or if sent by post, should be addressed to the FOI Officer, Lands Authority, Auberge de Bavière, Valletta VLT 2000. Cheque payments should be accompanied by the relative Notification Letter.
Opening Hours
Mondays to Fridays
8.30am to 12:00pm
Kindly mark your postal submissions with “FOI Request – Attn. FOI Officer” or “FOI Complaint – Attn. FOI Officer” (as applicable), in order to make sure that the request/complaint is properly channelled.
Requests/ Complaints received over the weekend or on public holidays will be addressed on the next working day. All references to “working days” in relation to the FOI Act should be understood as “Monday to Friday”.
8. Public Authority Contact Details
Telephone (00356) 22953238/39/40/42