Government want to make it easier to deny FOI requests

[McHibby]

The Government want to be able to block more Freedom of Information requests - in particular "industrial users" ie those pesky journalists who poke their noses into areas like expenses.

It would be a sad day if they were allowed to do this. I was only able to complete my dissertation at uni because of a FOI request. It was about Margaret Thatcher's foreign policy. I sent the same request for information on a summit that was held in Chequers to the Home Office and the Foreign Office. The Home Office pretty much told me to beat it as it would cost too much, but the Foreign Office agreed?! They did have a few little nuggets blacked out for security reasons, but without that information my dissertation would have been so much weaker.

I am instantly suspicious of anyone or organisation that wants to restrict access to it's information. It's like a wee chav who runs when he sees a policeman, you automatically think he's got something to hide.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9824649/Government-to-make-it-easier-for-officials-to-block-FOI-requests.html

[Future17]

The Government want to be able to block more Freedom of Information requests - in particular "industrial users" ie those pesky journalists who poke their noses into areas like expenses.

It would be a sad day if they were allowed to do this. I was only able to complete my dissertation at uni because of a FOI request. It was about Margaret Thatcher's foreign policy. I sent the same request for information on a summit that was held in Chequers to the Home Office and the Foreign Office. The Home Office pretty much told me to beat it as it would cost too much, but the Foreign Office agreed?! They did have a few little nuggets blacked out for security reasons, but without that information my dissertation would have been so much weaker.

I am instantly suspicious of anyone or organisation that wants to restrict access to it's information. It's like a wee chav who runs when he sees a policeman, you automatically think he's got something to hide.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9824649/Government-to-make-it-easier-for-officials-to-block-FOI-requests.html

There is definitely a problem with the legislation in that the cost to organisations can be very high and cannot always be passed on or absorbed properly.

Having said that, any change to the Act will be viewed, correctly, with great suspicion. This is especially true give FoI's supporting role in some excellent recent examples of investigative journalism. The word "freedom" is there for a reason.

[hibsbollah]

I know from personal experience that the FOI legislation is constantly abused by timewasters and 'industrial users', and there just arent the resources in Govt. to deal with them all. Although a balance needs to be struck between providing appropriate information and closing the doors to all requests, I agree with the proposals.

[Dinkydoo]

I know from personal experience that the FOI legislation is constantly abused by timewasters and 'industrial users', and there just arent the resources in Govt. to deal with them all. Although a balance needs to be struck between providing appropriate information and closing the doors to all requests, I agree with the proposals.

Same here.

I have to provide data for FOI's relating to our workforce (excluding finance information) and the voulme of requests that filter through to myself is quite unbelievable - considering this IS Dumfries & Galloway we're talking about. I have declined FOI requests on more than one occassion under section 12 of the Act - excessive cost of compliance.

I'm not in favour of any kind of blanket ban but I do think the legislation could do with refinement.

Having to decipher what people are actually asking for and 'idiot proof' any data provided with accompanying guidance notes is more difficult than it seems too - many people asking for FOIs seem determined to interpret the information given in a particular manner, in support of thier own prejudices.

[hibsbollah]

Same here.

I have to provide data for FOI's relating to our workforce (excluding finance information) and the voulme of requests that filter through to myself is quite unbelievable - considering this IS Dumfries & Galloway we're talking about. I have declined FOI requests on more than one occassion under section 12 of the Act - excessive cost of compliance.

I'm not in favour of any kind of blanket ban but I do think the legislation could do with refinement.

Having to decipher what people are actually asking for and 'idiot proof' any data provided with accompanying guidance notes is more difficult than it seems too - many people asking for FOIs seem determined to interpret the information given in a particular manner, in support of thier own prejudices.

:agree:

The FOI officer at my last place of work was deluged by FOI requests from some big names in the UK press for ALL details of Christmas festivities across the local authority area, to check for any possible 'loony left coonsil bans Christmas' stories :rolleyes:

Even if it was justifiable (how you measure the justification of political motivation is a bit tricky) it would have taken a small team of folk to check it all out.