Freedom of Information and Data Protection
Led by Dr Ben Worthy
FOI & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Final report Town Hall Transparency? The Impact of Freedom of Information on Local Government in England (pdf)
Our FOI and Local Government project is the first systematic study of the objectives, benefits
and consequences of FOI and English local government. The study
evaluates the impact of the legislation by speaking to selected
officials who work with it across 15 different local authorities and
conducting a survey of FOI officers in local authorities across
England. The project also surveyed requesters who use FOI, interviewed local journalists and analysed media articles that report FOI. Local government in Britain has been a focus of more than two thirds
of all FOI requests. Understanding the impact of FOI on local government
is central to a wider understanding of how the Act is working.
FOI & UNIVERSITIES
- Seminar presentation of our provisional findings (pfd) on 12 April, with guest speaker, Paul Gibbons, Information Compliance Manager, SOAS (pfd)
The Freedom of Information Act (and Environmental Information Regulations) present both an 'opportunity' and a 'threat' to academics. The threat was shown by ‘climate-gate’ at the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit, revealing confusion over requirements and prompting wider discussion on what research information should be shared with the public. Yet FOI/EIR is opportunity for academics, as requests can be used as a research tool. But it is not clear how much FOI is being used, or how effectively, by academic researchers. Our project will assess the impact of FOI on universities and academics, and also look at how academics can make better use of the Act.
MORE ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
AND THE REST...
- Monthly Updates: Every month we collate what's been happening in the world of FOI & DP in the UK and across the world.
- International Focus: We also profile a different FOI regime in a series of monthly briefings
- Consultancy: the Unit is frequently commissioned to conduct research projects on FOI & DP issues. Together with our team of experts we have explored areas for clients such as the World Bank and the Information Commissioner's Office. Meet the team »
- » Watch the speeches from FOI Live 2011
