http://www.out-law.com/en/ Latest legal news on freedom of information from OUT-LAW.COM, part of international law firm Pinsent Masons en-gb Pinsent Masons LLP Tue, 22 May 2012 14:02:33 +0100 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/may/ico-announces-plan-to-change-public-sector-publication-scheme-standards/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/may/ico-announces-plan-to-change-public-sector-publication-scheme-standards/ Freedom of information Public bodies will be required to proactively publish some information and to do so transparently and in a re-usable formats under plans being developed by a freedom of information (FOI) watchdog. Mon, 21 May 2012 12:42:00 +0100 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/may/minister-vetoes-disclosure-of-information-about-risks-to-nhs-changes/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/may/minister-vetoes-disclosure-of-information-about-risks-to-nhs-changes/ Freedom of information The Secretary of State for Health has vetoed plans for the publication of a Government document which outlined potential risks of changes to the NHS, claiming that publication would reduce the chances of civil servants offering ministers frank advice. Thu, 10 May 2012 12:19:00 +0100 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/april/names-of-staff-members-who-dealt-with-complaints-are-not-necessarily-personal-data-tribunal-says/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/april/names-of-staff-members-who-dealt-with-complaints-are-not-necessarily-personal-data-tribunal-says/ Freedom of information The names of three junior members of staff who had handled complaints made to the financial services regulator should have been disclosed as part of a freedom of information request as disclosure "did not adversely affect their privacy", a tribunal has ruled. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:00:00 +0100 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/april/details-of-names-and-roles-of-senior-council-officials-involved-in-recruitment-subject-to-disclosure-under-foi-tribunal-rules/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/april/details-of-names-and-roles-of-senior-council-officials-involved-in-recruitment-subject-to-disclosure-under-foi-tribunal-rules/ Freedom of information Councils should be prepared to disclose the names of senior staff members involved in recruiting senior councillors or officials as well as details of the role they played in that recruitment, an Information Rights Tribunal has ruled. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:25:00 +0100 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march1/freedom-of-expression-right-not-a-factor-in-journalists-foi-claim-court-of-appeal-rules/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march1/freedom-of-expression-right-not-a-factor-in-journalists-foi-claim-court-of-appeal-rules/ Freedom of information The Charity Commission does not have to disclose information contained in its inquiry documents because that refusal does not interfere with a journalist's right to freedom of expression, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:58:00 +0100 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march1/watchdog-reduced-data-protection-penalties-in-50-of-cases-foi-disclosure-reveals/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march1/watchdog-reduced-data-protection-penalties-in-50-of-cases-foi-disclosure-reveals/ Freedom of information The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has reduced fines for organisations that have breached data protection law in half of the cases in which it has issued direct fines, Out-Law.com can reveal. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:00:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march1/government-department-must-disclose-data-from-private-email-correspondence-ico-rules/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march1/government-department-must-disclose-data-from-private-email-correspondence-ico-rules/ Freedom of information The Department for Education (DfE) must disclose information sent from a private email address belonging to the Education Secretary unless there is a legitimate reason to refuse doing so, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has said.  Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:10:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/disclosure-of-some-details-about-senior-council-officials-interests-legitimate-tribunal-rules/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/disclosure-of-some-details-about-senior-council-officials-interests-legitimate-tribunal-rules/ Freedom of information Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council has been ordered to disclose information relating to the professional interests of senior council members following a ruling by the Information Rights Tribunal. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:38:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/guardian-journalist-wins-right-to-sensitive-court-papers-related-to-griffin-conviction/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/guardian-journalist-wins-right-to-sensitive-court-papers-related-to-griffin-conviction/ Freedom of information The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) must disclose some papers it holds relating to the successful conviction of controversial right-wing politician Nick Griffin for a racial hate crime in the 1990s, an Information Rights Tribunal has ruled. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:29:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/assessment-of-foi-regime-should-be-based-on-evidence-not-emotion-watchdog-says/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/assessment-of-foi-regime-should-be-based-on-evidence-not-emotion-watchdog-says/ Freedom of information MPs reviewing the UK's freedom of information (FOI) regime should assess its success based on evidence and facts, the Information Commissioner has said. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:38:00 Z