Tag Archives: FOIA

Vexatious requests guidance: weakening our power to make the state speak

Posted on May 15, 2013 by lawrence serewicz

The long awaited guidance on vexatious requests has arrived.  The guidance follows from two distinct events. The first was the Parliament’s review of FOIA during which the MoJ presented evidence that suggested council’s were limited in their ability to deal … Continue reading →

Posted in FOIA, public sector, transparency, Uncategorized, vexatious requests | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

FOIA, equality, justice and the future of democracy

Posted on May 7, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

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 , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Empty Archives: hollow men and the fear of accountability?

Posted on April 23, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

In their recent visit to the Justice Select Committee Lord O’Donnell and Lord Hennessy talked about the possibility of “empty archives”.  Lord Hennessy mentioned that Cabinet minutes were not as explicit as they were in previous generation. He said that … Continue reading →

Posted in FOIA, Government, statesmanship, transparency | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Will the reform of FOIA create empty archives: The myth, the threat, or the reality?

Posted on April 17, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

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 →

Posted in censorship, FOIA, Government, local government, public sector, transparency | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Will the reform of FOIA create empty archives: The myth, the threat, or the reality?

Time for a change…..of name, but the journey continues

Posted on March 3, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

I have blogged on this site since August 2010 under my name. I thought it was time to move to a different title reflects the content.  If the blog had been about me personally, it might have remained unchanged. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in education, good writing, Government, military, privacy, statesmanship, strategy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Time for a change…..of name, but the journey continues

Can you measure democracy by its freedom of information? Four hypothesis in search of answers

Posted on February 25, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

What is the relationship between FOIA’s age and its acceptance and use?  I have thought that there may be a resistance to FOIA in the UK for the following institutional and cultural reasons. If these hypotheses are true, then the … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, local government, localism, transparency | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

If we are going to charge for FOIA requests we might as well start charging for complaints.

Posted on February 18, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

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 →

Posted in FOIA, Government, public sector, transparency | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Freedom of Information Act is the grain of sand in an oyster of records that creates pearls of transparency

Posted on February 16, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

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 , , , | 8 Comments

Organisational Silence can kill you! Why FOIA is priceless

Posted on January 20, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

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 , , , | 9 Comments