This is a request to my reader(s) to use his/her/their vote in the European Elections (assuming eligibility). It is perhaps worth reminding people just who can vote in UK Elections. *http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/who_can_register_to_vote.aspx Below is a full list of Commonwealth and European Union countries. If you are a citizen of one of these countries, and resident in […] →Read more
No particular big story here, just a responsible and sensible use of Freedom of Information and the Act working as it should. The Board Members’ Handbook for the Architects Registration Board has been released. response re board members handbook →Read more
“I can confirm that 6 authorities’ have been contacted in writing between 1January 2009 and 8 April 2009 to inform them that we wish them to makeimprovements to their publication schemes as part of enforcement cases.These authorities are Staffordshire Primary Care Trust, Royal Mail,Lancashire Constabulary, South Wales Police, Northern Ireland Legal ServicesCommission and the City […] →Read more
“91% said they wanted expenses records to be published in full straight away.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8042261.stm This shows just how out of touch some public authorities are when they turn down FOI requests for no good reason. The law really needs to be strengthened to reduce the scope for misusing exemptions and speed up the complaints process. →Read more
France made this happen in 2004:“A charter for the environment which makes a healthy environment aconstitutional right for French citizens has passed a key hurdle withapproval by the parliament on Tuesday by 328 votes to 10.”http://www.endseurope.com/9473 – http://www.env-health.org/a/1629 I am not about to suggest that France’s behaviour towards theenvironment has been perfect ever since or […] →Read more
“The debates on the Telecoms Package, thanks to a remarkable citizen mobilization, led to an extremely strong recognition of the access to internet as a fundamental right with the re-adoption of amendment 138/46 in second reading by a qualified majority.” http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2009/05/07/amendment-13846-adopted-again-internet-is-a-fundamental-right-in-europe/ →Read more
“Answer: The City of Edinburgh Council spent £10,626.04 on bottled water from January 2008 to December 2008.” http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bottled_water_use →Read more
You must know the drill by now, sign the petition to try to get the Duchy added to the Freedom of Information Act: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/duchyoflancaster/ →Read more
look what I found at the National Archives… “Dear Private SecretaryThe Prime Minister wishes ministers to be reminded that they should never admit the existence of arrangements by which Ministers meet Lobby Correspondents…” [November 27, 1964] Photograph of Lobbying Letter in Google Groups →Read more
The House of Commons just does not seem to grasp “Freedom of Information”, they refused to provide me with copies of documents on the grounds they were not information despite an ICO Decision Notice that clearly indicates that this approach is wrong: Paragraph 18 of the ICO Decision notice FS50076355 states that: “Defra has advised […] →Read more