Freedom of Information Law Update

This is episode 28 of the UK’s only Freedom of Information podcast by Ibrahim Hasan.

In this episode Ibrahim discusses FOI developments and decisions from the first quarter of 2012 including those concerning:
• When deleted information is held
• Private emails and text messages
• Vexatious requests
• Employment Tribunal statistics
• Section 30
• Social work records of the deceased
• Senior officers interests
• Job application information
• Tender pricing Information

Ibrahim also examines the possible outcomes of the Post Legislative Scrutiny of FOI by the Justice Select Committee.

This episode 27 of the UK’s only Freedom of Information podcast by Ibrahim Hasan.

In this episode Ibrahim discusses FOI developments and decisions during September and December 2011. This includes Commissioner and Tribunal decisions on:

• Information in private e mails
• Section 11 and providing summaries
• Vexatious requests
• Empty properties
• The Qualified Person’s Opinion
• And disclosure of statistics

Ibrahim also examines the new Local Government Transparency Code.

This is episode 26 of the UK’s only Freedom of Information podcast.

In this episode Ibrahim Hasan discusses FOI developments and decisions during the six months ending in August 2011. This includes Commissioner and Tribunal decisions on:

• Schools and information law
• When information is held under FOI
• Information held by PFI Contractors
• Vexatious Requests
• Personal Data and Statistics
• Disclosure of Salaries
• Deceased Persons’ Information
• And Section 43 and disclosure of contracts

For more on FOI, DP and RIPA see www.actnow.org.uk

In this episode Ibrahim examines the changes to the FOI Act, which will be implemented through the Protection of Freedoms Bill as well as the latest FOI decisions (from December 2010 to February 2011). He will focus on:

• The proposal to require datasets to be published and made available for re use
• The new definition of publically owned company
• The First ICO Undertaking under FOI
• Redaction costs under the Fees Regulations
• Disclosure of information about employees including names, bonus payments, compromise agreements and retirement packages
• AND disclosure of contract incentives

In this episode Ibrahim Hasan discusses the changes to the Freedom Of Information Act 2000 (FOI) announced by the Ministry of Justice as well as the latest FOI decisions of the Commissioner and the Tribunal (from September to November 2010). This includes decisions about:

• When information is held for the purposes of FOI
• The strike out of academic tribunal appeals
• Section 12 and the costs of compliance
• Pay negotiations information
• Applying the personal data exemption
• AND disclosure of commercially sensitive information

Ibrahim also produces web seminars and articles on FOI which can be accessed at www.actnow.org.uk.

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to episode 23 of the UK’s only Freedom of Information podcast.

I’m Ibrahim Hasan and I’m here to discuss the decisions of the Information Commissioner and the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) in the four months from May to August 2010.
In this episode we will be discussing decisions involving:

• Vexatious requests
• Costs of compliance
• Information in Publication Schemes
• Requests made through What Do They Know .com
• Draft reports and the section 22 exemption
• Disclosure of Surveillance Commissioner reports
• The section 36 exemption
• The latest thinking on the personal data exemption
• AND disclosure of PFI Financial models

In the three months upto the end of April 2010 the Information Commissioner published 150 decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published 19.

In this episode we will be concentrating on the decisions of the Information Tribunal or as it is now called, for most appeals, the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights).

In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions involving:

• Late reliance on exemptions
• Vexatious requests
• Information about animal testing
• Disclosure of historic personal data
• Anonymised data
• The Church of Scientology
• AND disclosure of legal advice

I start off though by discussing recent cases involving access to local authority land charges information which will have a big impact on council’s ability to charge for such information.

This is episode 21 of the UKs only Freedom of Information podcast.

In the three months up to the end of January 2010 the Information Commissioner published 154 decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published 17. Ibrahim is here to guide you through some of these.

In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions involving:

• Redaction costs when dealing with FOI requests
• Another use of the ministerial veto
• Section 36 and the opinion of the qualified person
• The tax status of a conservative peer
• Disclosure of information about the deceased
• When the Breach of Confidence exemption can be invoked
• AND disclosure of commercially sensitive information

This is episode 20 of the UK’s only Freedom of Information podcast by information lawyer Ibrahim Hasan (www.informationlaw.org.uk)

In the three months upto the end of October 2009 the Information Commissioner published 132 decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published 11. In this episode Ibrahim discuses decisions on:

• Information contained in publication schemes
• Marks on documents and whether they constitute information
• Vexatious requests
• Section 35 and disclosure of ministerial letters
• Statistics and section 40
• Disclosure of bonus payments to employees
• Tender evaluation information

Ibrahim also examines an important High Court Case regarding the Audit Commission Act and commercial confidentiality in contracts and tenders.

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to episode 19 of the UK’s only Freedom of Information podcast.

I’m Ibrahim Hasan. In the three months upto the end of July 2009 the Information Commissioner published seventy four decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published thirteen. I’m here to guide you through some of these.
In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions on:

• Fees and the aggregation rules
• Request for information about land
• Court records and section 32
• Section 36 and disclosure of internal correspondence
• Statistics and section 40
• Disclosure of disciplinary records
• AND the definition of commercial interests under section 43

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to episode 18 of the UK’s only Freedom of Information podcast.

I’m Ibrahim Hasan. In March and April 2009 the Information Commissioner published seven seven decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published eleven. I’m here to guide you through some of these.
In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions on:

• Information held with a view to publication
• Disclosure of CCTV footage of the 7th July Bombers
• The definition of court records
• Whether names of FOI requestors should be disclosed
• The latest thinking on the section 42 exemption for legal privilege
• AND disclosure of commercially sensitive information

This is episode 17 of the UK’s first Freedom of Information podcast from Ibrahim Hasan, an information law expert.

In Janaury (10) and February (17) 2009 the Information Commissioner published twenty seven (27) decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published eleven (11). I’m here to guide you through some of these.
In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions on:

• Requests for information in electronic form
• The first ministerial veto of a Tribunal decision
• Section 35 and the public interest test
• When statistics about properties can be personal data
• Correspondence between Princess Diana and the government
• Information about job applicants
• Disclosure of major IT contracts
• AND the first FOI appeal to the House of Lords

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to episode 16 of the UK’s first Freedom of Information podcast.
I’m Ibrahim Hasan. In November (15) and December (14) 2008 the Information Commissioner published twenty nine (29) decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published eleven (14). I’m here to guide you through some of these.
In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions on:

• Information held by the private sector
• Vexatious requests
• What costs can be passed on to an applicant
• Section 30 and access to audit reports
• Names of child care managers
• Access to legal advice
• AND disclosure of consultant tender bids and scorecards

This is a two monthly podcast by Ibrahim Hasan on the latest FOI decisions.

In September (22) and October (11) 2008 the Information Commissioner published thirty three (33) decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published eleven (11). I’m here to guide you through some of these.
In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions on:

• Information held on behalf of coroners
• Section 21 and information held by a court
• Disclosure of information about statutory inquiries
• OFSTED inspectors’ notes
• A request for information about Government Information Sharing initiatives
• Disclosure of Employment Tribunal details
• Drug testing methodologies
• AND when information about residential care homes can be disclosed under section 43

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to episode 14 of the UK’s first Freedom of Information podcast.
I’m Ibrahim Hasan. In July (32) and August (10) 2008 the Information Commissioner published forty two (42) decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published ten (10). I’m here to guide you through some of these.
In this episode, amongst others, we will be discussing decisions on:

• The definition of information and when it is held by a public authority
• The applicability of FOI to information held in solicitors’ files
• Vexatious requests
• Section 21 and what is reasonably accessible information
• Section 35 and the public interest
• Section 36 and requests about requests
• Disclosure of statistics
• Disclosure of legal advice
• AND when losing bidders’ information can be disclosed under section 43

This is episode 13 of the UK's first Freedom of Information podcast by Ibrahim Hasan. In May (24) and June (19) 2008 the Information Commissioner published forty three (43) decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published ten (10). Ibrahim is here to guide you through some of these.

In this episode we will be discussing decisions on:

• The definition of information and when it is held by the organisation
• Vexatious requests
• Section 17 and the Public Interest Test
• Section 36 and requests about FOI requests
• When statistics can still be personal data
• The long running saga of MPs expenses.
• Disclosure of addressees
• AND when contract and financial information can be withheld under section 43

This is Episode 12 of the UK's first Freedom of Information podcast by Ibrahim Hasan.

In this episode, amongst others, Ibrahim will be discussing decisions from the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal, during March and April 2008, on:

• How to decide which regime applies to an information request (FOI or EIR)
• Information available on websites
• Disclosure of correspondence with councillors
• The section 38 exemption for health and safety
• Disclosure of names of employees and those attending meetings
• More guidance as to when legal advice should be disclosed
• AND When price information can be withheld under section 43

This is the latest episode of a two monthly podcast by Ibrahim Hasan discussing the latest decisions on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal.

In January and February 2008 the Information Commissioner published sixty decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published ten. In this episode, amongst other things, we will be discussing:

• More guidance on what is information under FOI
• Release of sensitive information relating to the circumstances around the Iraq war
• A Tribunal decision on the definition of personal data
• The overturning of the Commissioner’s decision ordering disclosure of ASBO information
• Disclosure of salaries
• And the first decision requiring disclosure of legal advice on public interest grounds

There is a also comment and analysis from Tim Turner of Wigan Council.

This is episode 10 of the UK’s first Freedom of Information podcast produced by information lawyer, Ibrahim Hasan.
In November and December 2007, the Information Commissioner published forty five decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published eleven. Ibrahim is here to guide you through some of these.

In this episode, amongst other things, we will be discussing:

• A Tribunal decision on vexatious requests
• Whether the time taken to redact exempt information is an allowable cost
• Disclosure of information about anthrax stockpiles
• When advice to ministers should be disclosed
• Blue sky thinking and the section 36 exemption
• Disclosure of information contained in a dead person’s social work records
• AND legal advice about sado masochism

More podcasts and articles are available at www.informationlaw.org.uk

This is Episode 9 of the UK first Freedom of Information Podcast produced by Information Lawyer, Ibrahim Hasan.

In September and October 2007, the Information Commissioner published thirty eight decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published nine.

Ibrahim is here to guide you through some of these.

In this episode we will be discussing decisions involving
: Vexatious requests and what makes them such
: Disclosure of celebrity pay packets by the BBC
: Disclosure of staff attendance at work
: The applicability of section 21 to information on the internet
: The link between the fees provisions and section 16
: The first Tribunal decision on disclosure of dead peoples' information
: AND disclosure of information about police speed meters

This is episode 8 of the UK's first Freedom of Information podcast by Ibrahim Hasan.

In July and August 2007 the Information Commissioner published sixty four FOI decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published seven. This podcast guides you through some of these.

Amongst other things, in this episode Ibrahim will be discussing

: The first appeal against an Information Notice
: Disclosure of staff names and contact details
: The first Commissioner decisions involving GPs
: Disclosure of bids received for the purchase of council land
: Whether statistics can still be personal data
: Disclosure of dead peoples' information
: AND when retrieval of information amounts to the creation of new information

Previous scripts and podcasts can be downloaded from www.informationlaw.org.uk

This is episode 7 of the UK's first Freedom of Information podcast produced by information lawyer, Ibrahim Hasan.

In May and June 2007 the Information Commissioner published fifty seven FOI decisions whilst the Information Tribunal published six. Ibrahim Hasan is here to guide you through the some of these.
Amongst other things, in this episode he will be examining decisions about disclosure of information on:

: Empty properties
: Job evaluation criteria
: A council's vehicle towing policy
: A hospital's audit report
: The retirement packages of senior officers
: AND details of premium bond winners

We also have comment and analysis from Andrew Maughan, of the London Borough of Bexley, who recently represented his council in an appeal to the Information Tribunal.

For previous episodes and scripts please see www.informationlaw.org.uk

This is episide 6 of a two monthly podcast by Ibrahim Hasan discussing the latest decisions on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations by the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal. This is the only FOI podcast of its kind in the UK.

This episode examines the FOI/EIR decisions published in March and April 2007. Amongst other things, in this episode we will be hearing about :

: The new consultation on the fees regulations
: When information is held on behalf of a public authority
: The link between the Enterprise Act and FOI
: The disclosure of surveillance information
: AND Tony Blair's Christmas card list

Ibrahim is a qualified solicitor and an expert on information rights law particularly data protection, freedom of information and surveillance law. He is a director of Act Now Training and consultant with IBA Solicitors.Ibrahim trains and advises public sector organisations throughout the UK. For more information, articles and resources go to www.informationlaw.org.uk

Welcome to episode 5 of the UK's first monthly Freedom of Information podcast.

Ibrahim Hasan guides you through the decisions of the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal published in February 2007

Amongst other things, this month we will be hearing about

: the first Practice Recommendation issued by the Information Commissioner
: the review of the Records Management Code of Practice
: the disclosure of salary information
: the release of ASBO information
: access to dead peoples' information
: the link between the Enterprise Act and FOI
: when a request can be treated as vexatious
: AND the case of the speeding police bus

We also have an interview with Susan Healy of the National Archives and comment and analysis from Tim Turner of Wigan Council.

This is the fourth episode of Ibrahim Hasan's monthly podcast program, designed to bring busy public sector practitioners up to date with the latest developments in Freedom of Information(FOI) law, has just been published.

This is the only FOI Podcast of its kind in the UK and has been mentioned in The Times (17th Oct 2006). There were almost 1000 downloads of last month's program.

Due to the Christmas break, we have a packed program for you this month. Ibrahim discusses the latest FOI developments over the last two months including:

: news about the governments fees consultation
: access to commercially sensitive information
: the application of FOI to the BBC
: the vexed question of access to dead peoples' information
: MP's expenses claims
: access to lists of addresses of council properties
: AND whether information about David Beckham can be released

There is also comment and analysis from Martin Rossenbaum of the BBC and Elaine Fletcher of Eversheds solicitors.

Ibrahim is one of the UK's leading solicitors and trainers on information law (www.informationlaw.org.uk)