New WWI records available from National Archives
Nov 12, 2007 Useful sites
The ‘Burnt’ records are First World War soldiers’ records that were literally burnt during the Blitz and for the first time they are now available to search online. The name search is free but there is a charge to download records.
Most surnames starting A to C are now available via Ancestry.co.uk.
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 [...]
Contact info for new NHS ambulance trusts
Oct 4, 2006 Health, Useful sites
The Ambulance Trusts in England were reconfigured on 1st July 2006. There are now 12 Ambulance Trusts and a separate management arrangement for the Isle of Wight.
These documents which I uncovered contain useful contact details for the new Ambulance Trusts.
Contact Information for New Ambulance Trusts (PDF, 44K)
Information on Reconfiguration of NHS Ambulance Trusts – implications [...]
Buncefield Oil disaster reports
Jun 27, 2006 Environment, Useful sites
The Environment Agency has published several online resources about the ongoing investigation into the Buncefield oil disaster of 11 December 2005:
Buncefield Investigation – a collection of the main reports.
Buncefield latest news
Police FOI contact details
Jun 13, 2006 Law Enforcement, Useful sites
I’ve obtained a list of the FOI contact points for all the UK police forces. The format is a bit weird at the moment, but my tech team is working on it, and it should be fixed shortly.
http://www.yrtk.org/constabulary-contacts/
New BBC FOI website
May 5, 2006 FOI in the news, Useful sites
Nicola Beckford at the BBC’s Freedom of Information Unit wrote to tell me that the BBC now have a dedicated website for all stories they uncover using the Act:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2006/foi/default.stm
This is a good supplement to the Guardian’s FOI page, which is now very extensive.
Government spending
Aug 1, 2005 Central Government, Useful sites
A new databank was published last week by HM Treasury that compiles published data covering the main aspects of Government finances, including receipts, expenditure, borrowing and debt. Public sector finance statistics will be added to this page every month.
The data is presented in tables and charts which should help you assess past performance as well [...]
Free PFI database
Jul 20, 2005 Companies, Useful sites
How much money is your local authority spending on Private Finance Initiative projects? A new database created by Partnerships UK is one of the best resources for PFI facts and figures. It brings together data on all 633 PFI and public-private partnership contracts signed in the UK.
The database is free to use and is [...]
Transport in London
May 24, 2005 Transport, Useful sites
The Department of Transport published new guidance on how transport is run and managed in London. If you need to know who is responsible for what service then this is a good place to begin your journey.
A printable PDF version is also available.
Journalists’ Toolbox: Courts
Mar 10, 2005 Articles, Justice & Courts, Useful sites
Journalist Magazine
Jan/Feb 2005 issue
Report the Courts
By Heather Brooke
Journalists have tried-and-trusted ways of getting information, but every day new data goes online and even diligent reporters may be unaware of resources that would help their work immeasurable. In the first of a series of articles, the Journalists’ Toolbox, Heather Brooke lists internet sources for all the [...]
