Comments on: Article: Freedom – only if we can get the information http://www.yrtk.org/2007/times-law-freedom-only-if/ A guide to the Freedom of Information Act & other access laws Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:11:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: wayne http://www.yrtk.org/2007/times-law-freedom-only-if/comment-page-1/#comment-12135 wayne Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:32:07 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/2007/articletimes-law/#comment-12135 The prison service has been refusing to answer my request since November. All I asked was: "Can I have the following information for Holmehouse Prison?: How much is spent on digital TV (Sky, Freeview, NTL etc), and games consoles (Xbox, Playstation and games etc) between January 2002- October 2006." In Mid December they said it was causing problems and said they would have it done by january 16th. On january 16th they said: "I had anticipated being in a position to reply to your request today, but unfortunately this has not been possible, as I am waiting to receive advice from our legal advisors. As stated previously, we are considering the application of the exemption contained section 43 of the Act, relating to information which may prejudice the commercial interests of the National Offender Management Service. I have therefore extended the deadline to 1 February." That is government speak for telling me this information could show them in a bad light and they don't want that. On February 1st they said: "We continue to consider your request and we apologise for not responding to you by 2nd February 2007, as previously stated. As a result, we will not be able to provide a full response within the stipulated period. Your request is being dealt with as a matter of urgency and now aim to respond by 2nd March 2007." The prison service has been refusing to answer my request since November.

All I asked was:

“Can I have the following information for Holmehouse Prison?: How much is spent on digital TV (Sky, Freeview, NTL etc), and games consoles (Xbox, Playstation and games etc) between January 2002- October 2006.”

In Mid December they said it was causing problems and said they would have it done by january 16th. On january 16th they said:

“I had anticipated being in a position to reply to your request today, but unfortunately this has not been possible, as I am waiting to receive advice from our legal advisors. As stated previously, we are considering the application of the exemption contained section 43 of the Act, relating to information which may prejudice the commercial interests of the National Offender Management Service.

I have therefore extended the deadline to 1 February.”

That is government speak for telling me this information could show them in a bad light and they don’t want that.

On February 1st they said:

“We continue to consider your request and we apologise for not responding to you by 2nd February 2007, as previously stated.

As a result, we will not be able to provide a full response within the stipulated period. Your request is being dealt with as a matter of urgency and now aim to respond by 2nd March 2007.”

]]> By: Jack Thurston http://www.yrtk.org/2007/times-law-freedom-only-if/comment-page-1/#comment-12120 Jack Thurston Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:42:33 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/2007/articletimes-law/#comment-12120 Heather, this is a very interesting - and worrying - article. And thanks for the nod in the direction of our work at an EU level. Two weeks ago we held a really wonderful conference in Budapest, bringing together 40 participants from 15 countries, looking at how to take the FOI work on farm payments onwards in 2007. As you may know, starting from the current budget year, the end recipients of all EU funded payments must be disclosed. For more on what this means take a look at a couple of articles in the Guardian by David Hencke: http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,,1995587,00.html http://media.guardian.co.uk/newmedia/comment/0,,2007753,00.html (second link requires registration which is free) Jack Heather, this is a very interesting – and worrying – article. And thanks for the nod in the direction of our work at an EU level. Two weeks ago we held a really wonderful conference in Budapest, bringing together 40 participants from 15 countries, looking at how to take the FOI work on farm payments onwards in 2007. As you may know, starting from the current budget year, the end recipients of all EU funded payments must be disclosed. For more on what this means take a look at a couple of articles in the Guardian by David Hencke:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,,1995587,00.html

http://media.guardian.co.uk/newmedia/comment/0,,2007753,00.html

(second link requires registration which is free)

Jack

]]> By: Wat Tyler http://www.yrtk.org/2007/times-law-freedom-only-if/comment-page-1/#comment-12068 Wat Tyler Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:20:34 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/2007/articletimes-law/#comment-12068 Excellent summary Heather. The more people who know about this the better. Keep going. Excellent summary Heather.

The more people who know about this the better.

Keep going.

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