Article: Problems at the Information Commissioner’s Office
Dec 22, 2005 Articles
The UK watchdog charged with ensuring that public bodies obey the new Freedom of Information Act already has a huge backlog of appeals that will take years to clear. An even greater surprise is that these figures, along with early decisions, were withheld and were only made public after filing an FOI request.
Article: Covering arms & defence
Dec 21, 2005 Articles, Defence
Journalist’s Toolbox on investigating the arms trade
Observations on secrecy
Dec 20, 2005 Articles
It was meant to shine a light on state power. And in its first year of operation the Freedom of Information Act has successfully illuminated some rats and cockroaches, but central government remains an unturned stone.
Dept for Transport: new contact details
Dec 16, 2005 Book Updates, Transport
The Department for Transport has changed the email for inbound requests; it is now
foi-advice@dft.gsi.gov.uk
or you can use the online request form at
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/page/dft_foi_033691.hcsp
The FOI Officer remains the same but with a new title:
Mike Carty
Information Rights Unit Branch Head
Information & Better Regulation Division
Department for Transport
Zone 9/2 Southside
105 Victoria Street
LONDON SW1E 6DT
0207 944 5825 / GTN 3533 [...]
Commissioner rules on restaurant inspections
Dec 14, 2005 Campaigns
The Guardian reports that the Information Commissioner has ruled against councils who refused to show restaurant inspection reports to the public, stating that:
“The public has a right to know what health inspections discover,” he said. “Well-run restaurants have nothing to fear – and much to gain – from public scrutiny. Publishing inspection reports will put [...]
Oil Fire: Health & Safety reports
Dec 13, 2005 Companies, Environment
Today’s article in the Daily Telegraph ‘Firemen battle on amid blast fears’ contained an interesting point:
“It emerged that the Health and Safety Executive had served an
improvement notice on one of the operators of the Buncefield oil depot, near Hemel Hempstead, four years ago amid concerns about the containment of an aviation fuel tank.”
This raises [...]
FOI in Parliament: 24 October – 8 November 2005
Dec 1, 2005 FOI in Parliament
8 November 2005
Written Answers – Transport: Central Railway
David Lidington (Aylesbury, Con) – To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the documents on the Central Railway project that were released by his Department to Central Railway plc following an application under the Freedom of Information Act [...]
