Additions to the site in 2006
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Proposed restrictions to the FOI Act |
| A new section of this website covers the government's proposals to restrict the Freedom of Information Act. Read what the Campaign, the media and others have had to say about the proposals. | |
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Response to the government's proposals to restrict the FOI Act |
| The Campaign has submitted a formal response to the Department for Constitutional Affairs about the proposed changes to the FOI Act. This highlights its serious concerns about the damaging effects of the proposals and calls on the government to honour a ministerial commitment to carry out a proper public consultation before changing the FOI rules. Added 27 November 2006 | |
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Challenge to secrecy over FOI costs survey |
| The Campaign has challenged the Department for Constitutional Affairs' refusal to disclose the results of a survey to monitor the costs of responding to FOI requests. The survey underpins the Government's recently announced decision to introduce new restrictions on FOI requests. Added 27 October 2006 | |
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Freedom of information laws are under attack |
In this article published by the Daily Telegraph online, Maurice Frankel argues that use of the Freedom of Information Act could be drastically reduced as a result of sweeping restrictions proposed by ministers. Added 24 October 2006 |
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Press release 16 October 2006 |
| The Campaign has responded to the Government's announcement that it is minded to allow (a) the time spent considering FOI requests to count towards calculating the cost limit and (b) authorities to aggregate FOI requests from the same person or organisation and refuse them all if the total exceeds the cost limit. | |
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Changes to FOI fees regulations |
| The Campaign has written to all MPs asking them to sign a Parliamentary motion expressing concern that the Government is considering changes to the charging arrangements under the Freedom of Information Act. You can read the Campaign's briefing to MPs and the list of MPs that have signed the motion here. The Campaign is encouraging supporters to write to their own MPs if they have not yet signed. Added 10 October 2006 | |
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Press release 31 July 2006 |
| New information charging rules would "reverse openness trend" | |
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Why your FOI requests
are being blocked - and what you can do about it 140
kb |
| A half day course in London on 25 October 2006. Are your freedom of information requests running into a brick wall? Are you being told that the information you want is exempt or would cost too much to provide? Are you unsure whether these arguments are legitimate? This half day course in central London will help you decide whether refusals are justified or should be challenged - and help you argue your case. It will also improve your requests by sidestepping exemptions and focussing on information that is difficult for authorities to refuse. Added 26 July 2006 | |
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500 Stories
from the FOI Act's First Year 1.9Mb |
| The Campaign has published summaries of 500 press stories based on disclosures during the first year of the Freedom of Information Act. They include disclosures under the UK and Scottish FOI laws, both of which came into force on 1 January 2005. The stories have been categorised by subject, newspaper and public authority and illustrate the wide range of information which has been released. Added 21 July 2006 | |
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Constitutional
Affairs Select Committee evidence 872 kb |
| Written evidence to inquiry into the FOI Act by the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee. A transcript of the Campaign's oral evidence on 28 March 2006 is available here. Added 8 May 2006 | |
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One
Year On - Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 884
kb |
| Response to the Scottish Executive's review of the Act after the first year. Added 8 May 2006 | |
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Finance
Committee submission 876 kb |
| Submission to an inquiry by the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee which is looking at the role of various regulators including the Scottish Information Commissioner. Added 8 May 2006 | |
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Commissioner and Tribunal Decisions - what do they mean in practice? |
| This half-day course in London on 16 May 2006 will examine the UK and Scottish Information Commissioner's decisions to date and those of the Information Tribunal. It will highlight the most significant, discussing their implications for request handling, exemptions and the public interest test. The course is aimed at public authorities, lawyers and FOI specialists. Updated 9 March 2006 | |
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Get to grips with the FOI Act - practical training courses |
| The Campaign is running training courses to help serious users of the FOI Act make effective use of this important but complex new legislation. The next course will take place on 9 May 2006. Updated 9 March 2006 | |
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FOI - the first year |
| "During more than 20 years of campaigning for a freedom of information act, two questions repeatedly nagged me. The obvious one: would Britain ever get an FOI Act? And the more troubling one: if we did, would it be worth having? " This article by Maurice Frankel appeared in Press Gazette on 13 January 2006. Added 20 January 2006 | |
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Its Britain, some doors are locked |
| "The Freedom of Information Act has begun to open doors – but is yet to be fully tested against those the government is determined to keep locked." A version of this article by Maurice Frankel appeared in The Independent on 31 December 2005. Added 20 January 2006 | |
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What was new in 2005 |
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What was new in 2004 |
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What was new in 2003 |
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What was new in 2002 |
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What was new in 2001 |
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What was new in 2000 |
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What was new in 1999 |
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What was new in 1998 |
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What was new in 1997 |
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Latest additions to the Campaign's website |
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