A qualified opinion
FOIMan explains who is “qualified” to give an opinion under the exemption for prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs (section 36). If you’ve ever had a freedom of information request turned down under the …
The defeat of the Mysterious Veto?
FOIMan thinks it may be too soon to start celebrating yesterday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal that Prince Charles’ letters to Ministers should be disclosed, but argues that interpretation of European law may yet …
Avoid using the C word
FOIMan explains why those requesting information under FOI should think twice before asking for correspondence. When I was an FOI Officer there was one word in a request that would make my heart sink. That …
Wanting to get data sharing right is not time-wasting
FOIMan is concerned that legitimate questions and concerns about data sharing are too often dismissed by those in a rush to exploit big data. And explains that this is nothing new. Years ago I worked …
CP and DP
FOIMan finds DP being breached in his own backyard. Back in 1936, the Crystal Palace, originally built for the Great Exhibition in 1851, and later moved to parkland to the south-east of London, burnt down. …
Care:crash
FOIMan despairs of the way the care:data project is being handled. Care:data has literally kept me awake at night. Six months ago I wrote a piece which referenced care:data as an example of what I …