Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 5/7/2024 – #FOIFriday
If you're in the UK, you probably voted yesterday. Do you know why we traditionally use pencils to fill in ballot papers? A Freedom of Information request provides the answer.…
Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 28/6/2024 – #FOIFriday
Public bodies are rubbish at answering FOI requests - in full, on time, or at all. openDemocracy has analysed 6,000 rulings issued by the FOI watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office…
Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 21/6/2024 – #FOIFriday
The last time Labour won a big majority in a general election back in 1997 (just saying, because these things happen), we got the Freedom of Information Act. I won't…
Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 14/6/2024 – #FOIFriday
The Harry Kane Statue is the new Optical Illusion Cycle Path. Or, in other words, who doesn't love an FOI follow-up. Waltham Forest Council spent £7,200 in 2019 and 2020…
Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 7/6/2024 – #FOIFriday
Let's talk Environmental Information Regulation requests. They're like Freedom of Information requests, as they function in a similar way but they're more specific in what they cover (and potentially cover…
Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 31/5/2024 – #FOIFriday
FOI is important. Obviously, that's my view but it's shared by the people of Scotland, according to a survey. A survey by the Scottish Information Commissioner (of 1,279 members of…
Does the pre-election period affect Freedom of Information requests?
It shouldn't. All the guidance is that the pre-election period, when some public bodies need to be careful about what they communicate, shouldn't impact on FOI requests. But that hasn't…