Freedom of Information Act

[mybrainhurts]

The Dept for Transport website now shows you how to apply for information, and lists requests made and answers given.

Included in the Feb 05 requests is a copy of the summarised accounts for all the speed camera pratnerships, into which I am about to get dug.....

Spotted a nice get-out for govt in case they don't want to divulge information. If your request is going to cost more than £600 to process, they don't have to do it. Based on £25 per hour. So, if they have to spend more than 24 hours digging, you ain't going to get your answer. Freedom of information , my a*rse.

See here

www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/sectionhomepage/dft_foi_page.hcsp

[puggit]

Can anyone explain something I saw on the Wiltshire audit:

www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/page/dft_foi_035269.pdf

Payment rate for FPNs hit 106% and 108% in Q1 and Q4

[Hilts]

Occasionally some things will slip through any nets they make. That's a good one though, sorry Squire that's gonna take at least 25 hours...no can do. Next.

Even when they do release information sometimes it's so heavily sanitised it's useless, a lot of the quality UFO stuff that's released by the CIA/NSA etc. is sometimes just a page with black marker all the way through or through the good parts. Example.

[mybrainhurts]

puggit said:

Can anyone explain something I saw on the Wiltshire audit: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/page/dft_foi_035269.pdf Payment rate for FPNs hit 106% and 108% in Q1 and Q4

Looks like 100% to me....??

['King Deadly]

puggit said:

Can anyone explain something I saw on the Wiltshire audit: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/page/dft_foi_035269.pdf Payment rate for FPNs hit 106% and 108% in Q1 and Q4

Residents of Wiltshire are so grateful at the camera partnerships slashing deaths on the roads, that they're sending in £60 donations even when they haven't been caught speeding.

[off_again]

Please dont forget that we have one of the most secretive governments in the world. However, dont think that this is a new invention - its not and has been so for many many years.

Here in the UK, we have never had anything like a freedom of information act or a freedom of speach act as we know it from the USA. Its a false economy to think that we ever had, or ever will have anything like this..... sorry

The FoI act has so many holes, that you could fly an entire airline though it without even touching the sides. Basically it allows you access to limited information held by a government department. But, anything which is relevant to security or the police can be withheld.... although in reality the cost thing is there as a catch to prevent excessive and timewasting queries.

>> Edited by off_again on Sunday 13th February 21:05

[MilnerR]

The FoI act is also limited if the release of information could compromise the running a government agency/scheme etc. So basically if there is any information that proves that Scameras are ineffective it is unlikely to be fully disclosed as it may influence the running of the scameras!

[off_again]

MilnerR said:

So basically if there is any information that proves that Scameras are ineffective it is unlikely to be fully disclosed as it may influence the running of the scameras!

Hammer meet nail.....

[MMC]

Sorry guys - but if the FoI Act was going to change anything they'd never have passed it.

MMC

[streaky]

off_again said:

[ ... ] Here in the UK, we have never had anything like a freedom of information act or a freedom of speach act as we know it from the USA.

Actually, the Human Rights Act 1998, Article 10 reads:

ARTICLE 10
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This Article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.

2. The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

In contrast, the US Constitution, First Amendment provides that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The essential difference is that the First Amendment prohibits the restriction of 'freedom of speech', whilst Article 10 states it as a right.

Streaky