How to Use the Freedom of Information Act - Revision history

John Cross: /* Format of the information released */

2013-02-24T17:36:10Z

Format of the information released

John Cross: /* Making a request */

2013-02-24T17:32:38Z

Making a request

John Cross: moving a link

2013-02-24T17:13:40Z

moving a link

John Cross: /* Making a request */

2013-02-24T17:10:46Z

Making a request

John Cross: /* What information can be requested */

2013-02-24T16:56:44Z

What information can be requested

John Cross: /* What information can be requested */

2013-02-03T14:57:36Z

What information can be requested

John Cross: /* format of the information released */

2011-03-27T10:31:12Z

format of the information released

John Cross: /* timescale */

2011-03-27T10:30:59Z

timescale

John Cross at 10:30, 27 March 2011

2011-03-27T10:30:36Z

John Cross at 09:41, 27 March 2011

2011-03-27T09:41:20Z

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 Most requests are free of charge, but this implies an upper limit of £450 (£600 for central government)
 that will be borne by the public body finding and copying material; if fulfilling your request is likely to
-exceed this, you will be asked to narrow you request. Note that, in a recent legal case concerning
+exceed this, you will be asked to narrow you request.
 Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Information Commissioner, the judge took the view that the Act
 covered access to the information, rather than copies of the information itself, which has led to certain
 authorities (notably [[Strathclyde Police]]) providing summaries of information requested rather than
-original copies.<ref>http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2009CSIH73.html</ref>
+original copies.<ref>http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2009CSIH73.html</ref> This ruling does not apply to UK Central Government or public authorities in England, Scotland or Wales.
 ==Timescale==

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
+*ICO's [http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/official_information.aspx How to access information from a public body]
 *[http://www.foiman.com/foiguide1 FOI Man's Guide to Making FOI Requests]
 *[http://www.whatdotheyknow.com whatdotheyknow.com] (a site for making public freedom of information requests)

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 *[http://wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/makearequest/?lang=en Welsh Assembly]
 *[http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/foi/freedom.htm Northern Ireland Assembly]
-*[http://www.whatdotheyknow.com whatdotheyknow.com] (a site for making public freedom of information requests)
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 *[http://www.foiman.com/foiguide1 FOI Man's Guide to Making FOI Requests]
+*[http://www.whatdotheyknow.com whatdotheyknow.com] (a site for making public freedom of information requests)
 *[http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/details_of_ed_vaizeys_meeting_wi#incoming-194205 example of an FOI request for correspondence between Google and the UK Government]
 *[http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/request_for_council_hospitality example of an FOI request for the register of gifts and hospitality]

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ==Making a request==
 *[http://www.foiman.com/foiguide1 FOI Man's Guide to Making FOI Requests]
 ==Format of the information released==

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:56, 24 February 2013
Line 49:		Line 49:

	Personal information held about you is exempt under Section 40 of the Act but it is accessible under the Data Protection Act.		Personal information held about you is exempt under Section 40 of the Act but it is accessible under the Data Protection Act.
		+
		+
		+	==Making a request==
		+
		+	*[http://www.foiman.com/foiguide1 FOI Man's Guide to Making FOI Requests]

	==Format of the information released==		==Format of the information released==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==What information can be requested==
-The Act may also be used to elicit information about private companies where they intersect with
+You can make an FOI for any recorded information held by a public authority and the public autority will have to provide the information to you unless an exemption applies in which case the authority will have to explain what exemption they are using to withhold the information.
-public authorities through provision of goods and services. The Freedom of Information Act (FoI) is the first
-tool in any investigative researcher’s arsenal. It is very easy to make a request under the Act and the
+The Act may also be used to elicit information about private companies where they interact public authorities through provision of goods and services. The Freedom of Information Act (FOI) is the first tool in any investigative researcher’s arsenal. It is very easy to make a request under the Act and the majority of public bodies will have a part of their website dedicated to Freedom of Information. Some useful
 web pages are:
@@ Line 35: / Line 34: @@
-As someone may previously have requested the information you are seeking, it is good practice to search
+As someone may previously have requested the information you are seeking, it is good practice to search the documents already released by the body you are investigating before making your request. Once you are satisfied that this information is not readily available in the public domain, you can send in a request (by post or email), stating succinctly what it is you require and giving your name (you may apply under a pseudonym but bear in mind that, if your case goes to appeal, you will need to provide an address.
-the documents already released by the body you are investigating before making your request. Once you
+You do not need to mention the Act as your request will automatically be dealt with under its auspices. Be as specific as possible and consider using the dates of specific events you are enquiring about (if known) or date ranges for quantities of information solicited.
-You are free to request all the information available on a particular topic, covering a variety of formats,
+You are free to request all the information available on a particular topic, covering a variety of formats, including:
 *Minutes of meetings
 *Policy documents
 *Reports
 *Details of communications – emails, letters, faxes and telephone transcripts, video, text messages, PowerPoint presentations

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 Personal information held about you is exempt under Section 40 of the Act but it is accessible under the Data Protection Act.
-==format of the information released==
+==Format of the information released==
 You can ask the material to be sent to you as a hard copy or digitally, depending on your preference.
 Most requests are free of charge, but this implies an upper limit of £450 (£600 for central government)

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 original copies.<ref>http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2009CSIH73.html</ref>
-==timescale==
+==Timescale==
 Every public body has a duty to reply within twenty working days unless they ask you for more time to
 process your request.<ref>Use the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Response Calculator to see when you should expect a reply:

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 *publicly funded museums
 *publicly owned companies
 ==What information can be requested==
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 web pages are:
-[http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/request-foi/ UK Parliament]
+*[http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/request-foi/ UK Parliament]
+*[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/cnPages/contactUs.htm#foi Scottish Parliament]
-[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/cnPages/contactUs.htm#foi Scottish Parliament]
+*[http://wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/makearequest/?lang=en Welsh Assembly]
+*[http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/foi/freedom.htm Northern Ireland Assembly]
-[http://wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/makearequest/?lang=en Welsh Assembly]
+*[http://www.whatdotheyknow.com whatdotheyknow.com] (a site for making public freedom of information requests)

@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 Based on a presentation by [http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/robevans Rob Evans]
-'''Back to main page on [[Investigative Research
+'''Back to main page on [[Investigative Research]]
 ==Notes==
 <references/>
 [[Category:Investigative Research]][[Category:Research Methods]]