What is Freedom of Information

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What is Freedom of Information?

• Julia Terry
• Cambridgeshire County Council

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Freedom of Information Act 2000

• IMPOSE duty to adopt and maintain a publication
  scheme.
• PROVIDES a right of access to recorded
  information.
• CREATE method for exemptions from the duty to
  disclose
• ESTABLISH mechanism for appeal and enforcement.
• AMEND Data Protection Act and Public Records
  Act.
• EXTEND Environmental Information Regulations
• ESTABLISH Commissioners.
• REQUIRES Ministers to write codes of practice.

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Aims

• Understanding and participation in public debate.
• Accountability and Transparency
• Decision Making
• Money Spending
• Understanding and challenging decisions.
• Public safety.

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Relationship With Other Legislation

• Not meant to replace other means of access to
  information.
• Makes changes to some legislation.
• Others have been changed to be compatible with
  FOI.

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FOI
FOI
Human Rights
EIR
Education
FOI
Local Govt
Health Records
FOI
FOI
FOI
FOI
Re-Use PSI
Data Protection
Public Records
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Who it Affects

• Over 100,000 Public Authorities and Publicly
  owned companies.
• Central Government Departments.
• Local Authorities
• NHS
• Police
• Parish Councils

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But Also.

• Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
• The British Potato Council
• Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites
• The Unlinked Anonymous Serosurveys Steering Group
• The Zoos Forum

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How Do You Get Information?

• Make A Valid Request
• In writing.
• A name.
• An address for response.
• Describe the information required.
• Must be received by a representative of the
  organisation.

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Publication Scheme

• Identify information that is published.
• Classified.
• Make the scheme available.
• Charges.
• Information about how to get the published
  information.

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Public Authority Responsibility

• Decide whether information exists
• Estimate whether it can be retrieved within the
  appropriate limit.
• Decide whether an exemption applies
• Public Interest
• Respond and provide information or a refusal
  notice within 20 working days

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IMPACT

• Culture Change
• Need to Know
• Right to Know
• Training
• Request Management
• 110 requests 24 Exemptions
• Subject Access

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Questions