Making FOI requests (UK)

[Demepivo]

*I am sure a post of this nature has been made elsewhere at some time but it's always useful to have the information to hand and in one place*

Possibly the best starting point is the Information Commissioners' Office (ICO) page on how to access information from a public body in the UK

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/official-information/

Under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations you have a right to request any recorded information held by a public authority, such as a government department, local council or state school. Environmental information requests can also be made to certain non-public bodies carrying out a public function.

• You can ask for any information you think a public authority may hold. The right only covers recorded information which includes information held on computers, in emails and in printed or handwritten documents as well as images, video and audio recordings.
• You should identify the information you want as clearly as possible.
• Your request can be in the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, but the authority does not have to answer your question if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgment that is not already recorded.
• Some information may not be given to you because it is exempt, for example because it would unfairly reveal personal details about somebody else.

I could copy & past more but this gives you a flavour

 

[Demepivo]

Another useful site is What do they know

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/

 

[Demepivo]

As an example, below is the information Bristol University give on making FOIs

The easiest way to make a request is to email: freedom-information@bristol.ac.uk

For a request to be considered valid under the Freedom of Information Act, it must:

• be in writing;
• include a name and address for correspondence (email address is sufficient);
• detail the information requested.

However, any request for information received in writing by a University member of staff can constitute an FOI request. The University may charge a fee for the information or disbursements (postage, photocopying etc where reasonable). Once it has received the fee, the University must respond to requests within 20 working days by:

• confirming whether it holds the information, and
• either providing a copy or summary of the information, or arranging for the requester to inspect the information,
• or informing the requester why the information has been withheld.

More details can be found on their FOI pages

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/foi/

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/foi/request/

Hope this helps

 

[Esther12]

I've been looking through some of the requests on WDTK, and another comment I want to make is that requests which seem like polemics are more trouble to do and less likely to be useful. My underestanding is that it is best to make the request as brief as possible, clearly explaining what information you want. You do not need to explain why you want the infomation, although explaining why there is legitimate public interest in the specific infomation requested may be valuable at the appeal stage. The more claims a request makes, the more likely there is that there will be an error that can be used against you, or something that could be used to argue that your request is vexatious. Those dealing with FOI requests will not be interested in engaging in a debate.

It's also important to not do anything which could be indicated as encouraging others to make FOI requests as part of a 'campaign', so I have a slight fear that even just posting the infomation in this thread could cause problems to other people seeking infomation about CFS through the FOIA. Hopefully we're past the point where anyone with concerns about this sort of research is lumped together as part of a scary amorphous mass, but I do not know. Prior to last years tribunal ruling there were a number of dodgy ICO judgements that used quotes from PR to try to smear everyone who posted here.

 

[FredaF]

Ester Crawleys's recent talk to renal specialists was all about how NOT to release information requested ie say the request is vexatious, or the person is fake, or the cost of getting the data over the 450 pound limit, or the data will be used for a publication at a future date (EC points out that you don't need to have a publication date). One thing reading through the What do you know site, is that very little seems to be known about the outcome measures at NHS clinics and/or research facilities and their don't seem to be any policies/procedures on ME/CFS at NHS or the Department of Health. NICE appear to ignore ME/CFS and have no guidelines for people who have physical/physiological abnormalities. Is it the polemic tone to some requests, that is resulting in the non-provision of information? Or is this information really not available? When you look at AIDS/HIV research it is way, way higher than most other diseases and per capita more per person than most other diseases. Can anything be learnt from their campaign?