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Archives
Category Archives: public sector
Will the Big Blue Button come to the UK? A records management revolution too far?
The Department of Health has published its “The Power of Information: Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need”. The document sets out how it will use information to fulfil its obligations found in … Continue reading
FOIA, equality, justice and the future of democracy
We should not be surprised that powerful people, in particular politicians and political leaders, do not like FOIA. Aside from the issue of political and public accountability, which raise important democratic principles, the FOIA challenges the political and social hierarchies. … Continue reading
Posted in FOIA, Government, public sector, transparency
Tagged FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, government, justice scales, Politics, social hierarchies, Social media, transparency
2 Comments
Will the reform of FOIA create empty archives: The myth, the threat, or the reality?
In the recent discussions around the future of FOIA, there have been important actors missing: records management and archives. Their absence creates three problems. Two are understandable and relatively minor. The third is the most subtle and the most dangerous … Continue reading
In defence of frivolous requests: FOIA and political accountability.
The FOIA is under post legislative scrutiny by the justice select committee. The written and oral evidence provided showed a concerned for frivolous or time wasting requests. I write here to defend one of these requests and show that they … Continue reading
Without Fear or Favour, police corruption and the failure of imagination.
Considering the Leveson Inquiry, I have been interested in the relationship between the police and the press. In particular, I was interested in the report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Without Fear or Favour: a review of police relationships. … Continue reading
If we are going to charge for FOIA requests we might as well start charging for complaints.
The current post legislative review of the Freedom of Information Act which was shaped by the Government’s initial response to the review of the legislation sought written evidence on three areas. Does the Freedom of Information Act work effectively? What … Continue reading
Freedom of Information Act is the grain of sand in an oyster of records that creates pearls of transparency
An important actor has been missing from the recent discussions around the future of FOIA. The missing organisation is the National Archives. The National Archives did not give any written evidence to the post legislative scrutiny of Freedom of Information. … Continue reading
Posted in FOIA, Government, public sector, transparency
Tagged FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, National Archives, Records management
8 Comments
Organisational Silence can kill you! Why FOIA is priceless
The next time someone wants to scold you over the cost of an FOIA request, you need to ask him or her about Camelford. They may say: Where? What does that have to do with the time and effort it … Continue reading
Posted in FOIA, Government, local government, public sector, transparency
Tagged Camelford, Drinking water, FOIA, Freedom of Information
9 Comments
Thoughts on Leveson:what is not in the press?
One thing that has struck me about the Leveson enquiry is how it has stayed away from discussing what is not published. At the moment, we are focused on the various methods the press did, or did not, use to … Continue reading
