Congestion Charge cameras operating 24/7
Nov 27, 2006 Freedom of Information, Transport
London’s congestion charge might end at 6:30pm but the cameras operate 24 hours a day. I discoverd this fact after making a series of freedom of information requests for the documentary ‘Suspect Nation’, which was broadcast last week on More4.
Transport for London has implemented the 24-hour surveillance without any public discussion or consultation. If the [...]
New details for HM Revenue & Customs
Nov 27, 2006 Book Updates, Freedom of Information, Law Enforcement
HM Revenue & Customs
Knowledge and Resources
Team Room 2/66
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ
Email: ccp.disclosure@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7147 2412
Fax: 020 7147 2197
FOI Officer: John Sharpe
How our taxes are spent
Nov 14, 2006 Central Government, FOI in Parliament, Freedom of Information
Citizen participation is not just about handing over our taxes for politicians’ pet projects. It means that we get a say on how and why policies are made. In a democracy it also means we have a right to see how our taxes are spent. I came across a site last month by the American [...]
What’s it all for?
Nov 13, 2006 Articles, Freedom of Information
The Guardian ran a series of articles on the proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act recently:
Cabinet Confidential
Leader: Stepping back into the dark
The importance of our right to know
Guardian, Media, October 30, 2006
By Heather Brooke
Freedom of Information has many uses. One of the most important is that it shows where public services are broken [...]
Indebtedness and bankruptcy
Nov 10, 2006 Companies, Freedom of Information, Useful sites
Tomorrow will likely see news stories about the continuing rise of people in debt. If you are curious about where these stories come from, the source is raw data published today by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The quarterly statistcs show the number of companies winding up and bankruptcy petitions. The link above also provides [...]
Why sex offender list must be public
Nov 9, 2006 Freedom of Information, Law Enforcement
A Panorama programme on BBC One last night showed clearly why the authorities cannot be relied upon to protect the public from predatory sex offenders and that only a public register can provide adequate protection.
The show focused on two bail hostels in Bristol and found that the ‘close supervision’ promised by politicians is a [...]
Upcoming speaking events
Nov 4, 2006 Freedom of Information
I will be speaking at the Frontline Club on Tuesday, 21 November at 7.30pm. This Frontline Confidential discussion will see a panel discussing the Government’s proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act and their effect on citizens and particularly journalists.
Joining me on the panel will be David Leigh, investigations editor of the Guardian and [...]
More evidence FOI saves money
Nov 4, 2006 Access Laws, Freedom of Information
In the previous post I disagreed with the stand the Taxpayers’ Alliance has taken on the use of Ordnance Survey data, but I can’t complain about their recent letter to the Guardian in which they support freedom of information as a net taxpayer savings.
Friday November 3, 2006
The Guardian
We reject the government’s argument that freedom of [...]
Ordnance Survey fees – no thanks!
Nov 1, 2006 Freedom of Information
I’m not sure I’m convinced by the Taxpayers’ Alliance defence of Ordnance Survey and its funding structure (“Well-charted territory – “free” means we pay…”, October 31), especially when one applies a little free-market economics to the claims being bandied about by OS supremo Vanessa Lawrence.
First and foremost, Ordnance Survey is a monopoly, so [...]
Government turns down FOI request for FOI data
Nov 1, 2006 Access Laws, Central Government, Freedom of Information
The Department for Constitutional Affairs becomes more Kafkaesque as time goes on. Officials there have selected members for a freedom of information group in secrecy, been the worst department for cooperating with the FOI regulator, held a consultation into open government behind closed doors and now this…
The DCA has refused a freedom of information request [...]
