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Freedom of Information news update

Useful websites:

www.accessall.info
www.foi.gov.uk
www.foi.nhs.uk
The FOI Act in full
FOI in Scotland
freedomofinformation.co.uk

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Newspaper wins exclusive over 'secret' council salary info
Rejected request for information brings its own story for KM Group

Newspaper backed after PR chief's muck-raking accusation
Despite failed FoI requests paper claims 'moral victory' in council investigation saga

Press freedom campaign group's fresh call for wider FoI remit
Private contractors should be brought under auspices of information act says lobby body

Newspaper wins lengthy battle to see £40,000 council study
Evening Post calls on Information Commissioner to see report – then brands it "unexciting"

Council identifies new role after reporter breaks exclusive on underage drinking
FoI probe at local hospital revealed shocking figures for teenage drink and drug abuse

Regional press continues to push for information under FOI
See how news stories are being generated through questions to public bodies

Information is the new infrastructure of society - FoI minister
Michael Wills MP speaks out on access to information at editors' conference

New FOI website aims to promote openness
New-look website wants to make it easier for people to understand and exercise their rights

Media industry urged to 'fight tooth and nail' over FOI changes
Top newspaper lawyer hits out at Government which has "given up both with judiciary and media"

Commons committee slams moves to restrict FOI
Proposed changes to legislation should be dropped, says report

Controversial FOI bill fails to win support in House of Lords
Opponents hail news as a triumph for democracy

New FOI legislation attempt due
Ten Minute Rule to be invoked as MP makes his point in the Commons

MPs hit back at bid to exclude them from FOI laws
More than 50 put their names to Early Day Motion claiming move would undermine Parliament

MPs vote to exclude themselves from FOI laws
Controversial bill to be discussed in the House of Lords next

Bid to exempt MPs' expenses from FOI due to resume today
Industry body urges MPs to attend the debate and vote against the proposals

Probe finds council went ahead with failed flights plan despite warnings
News group reveals how £300,000 of public money was lost after council ignored its own consultants

Blogger wins key role at Information Commission's office
Freedom of Information blogger Steve Wood has started work for the Information Commissioner

Fresh Govt consultation on FOI to ask: 'Should we change Act at all?'
Call for more reaction from members of the public, public authorities and the media

Industry figures back journalists' right to seek information
'We ask for no special privileges', says Satchwell as criticism of media is answered

Chronicle bids to overturn police decision on sex offenders
Paper appeals for right to reveal number of offenders, not their identities

No fee changes for Scottish FOI after Executive review
Decision is welcomed as work begins to extend Act beyond public authorities

Daily Press waits on FOI appeal over chief exec's quit mystery
Paper asks Information Commissioner to step in after council holds back documents

Controversial speed cam stats handed over after two-year Free Press fight
Tribunal rules on paper's investigation to show speed cameras brought in £1.2m

'Flawed' FOI proposals to cost money, not make savings - report
Charity warns that Government "needs to go back to the drawing board" on FOI changes

Gazette praised in Parliament for FOI use
MP tells debate how his local paper has uncovered valuable information in the public interest

Proposed FOI changes could see campaigning papers 'punished'
"The applicant who regularly appeals against refusals may be made to pay a price for doing so"

Two-year FOI battle over 'Donnygate' quiz ends in victory for the Star
Paper wins fight to reveal which councillors paid expenses back after audit revealed 'jet set' lifestyle

Shock figures and surprise headlines follow FOI flurry for Telegraph
Car crime, drug use and vandalism come under spotlight as paper puts FOI Act to good use

Consultation gets under way on proposed FOI changes
Questionnaire seeks views of media, public authorities, the public and campaign groups

Editors' body adds its weight to calls for action over proposed FOI changes
Letter to minister says proposals are "fundamentally flawed" and undermine the ideas behind legislation

Call for editors to campaign on plans to curb media's FOI requests
Bid launched to counter move to limit FOI use from "serial" requesters such as press

Reporter's FOI quiz reveals pre-teen drugs and car crime
"Simple" requests for information uncover compelling results for front page splashes

Media were told about less than one per cent of crime, Echo probe finds
Police dealt with almost 3,400 incidents in one week - but only released details of 23

Political editor's FOI plea brings admission on spiralling costs
Investigation reveals background of scrapped plans for arts gallery which would have cost almost £40m

MPs show concern over proposals to change FOI charging rules
Early Day Motion is signed by more than 80 MPs

Evening Times lifts lid on city crime with in-depth investigation
Two-week series will look at number and type of crimes in 232 police beats

Belfast paper wins FOI case after five-month battle
"We will not simply stand aside when important information of great public interest is withheld"

Untold story of riots revealed after Chronicle's FOI probe
Revelations uncovered by trawl through official papers on troubled estate

'Public confidence in the authorities up thanks to FOI' - survey
New research reveals encouraging position for Information Commissioner's office

Two-month FOI investigation reveals schools' £1-per-head sports spend
Low-level investment uncovered by reporter who quizzed 279 schools

Concerns voiced over possible change to FOI charging rules
"Leaked" changes could trigger more refusals from the authorities

FOI investigation shows regional jobs pledge is a 'sham'
Government has "major catching up to do" over Whitehall jobs earmarked for move, says Post

Regional papers making good use of FOI, report shows
Campaign for Freedom of Information looks at how new Act is used to unearth a wide variety of stories

News Shopper reveals hotel bills of debt-ridden hospital
Details were made public thanks to an anonymous tip off and "powerful tool" of the FOI Act

Student wins front page FOI scoop during work experience stint
Editor praises wannabe journalist who submitted request out of curiosity

Govt quango held to account by FOI inquiry
Political editor discovers how £10m was spent on offices - but only eight new businesses have moved in

Food risks, droppings and kitchen filth uncovered by paper's FOI quest
Argus reveals shocking state of school kitchens

FOI Act helps Herald Express reveal £700,000 cost of 'golden handshakes'
Three-year wait for information came to fruition as reporter pushed hard after new training

FOI plea reveals cost of luxury police vehicles - after 17 months
Information Commissioner upheld newspaper's request after police tried to claim an exemption

11+ exam figures uncovered in paper's FOI test
Selective education system prompts editor's request on pupil success

Police force must reveal company cars cost after FOI blunders
Paper's request for information is upheld by the Scottish Information Commissioner

Messenger runs second FOI probe on politicians' foreign trips
Cost to taxpayers exposed as political editor revisits happy hunting ground for stories

Police pledge changes after Guardian exposé
FOI request showed the way road accident data was recorded was flawed

Legal bid fails to stop Post's move on casino files
Details of deal between gaming firm, city council and football club were subject of FOI battle

Middleton Guardian discovers the cost of being 'gagged'
15-year media injunction cost more than £120,000

Evening Post investigation reveals untold stories of the miners' strike
Dozens of Government documents released by Home Office after request from coalfield paper

Post blasts council's £9,000 FOI request demand
Administration fee is "outrageous", says editor

Paper's FOI request uncovers council's US spending plans
Investigation reveals how thousands of pounds of taxpayers cash is being invested

True cost of health negligence claims revealed by reporter's FOI probe
Tip-off about a recent claim led Gazette man to make further inquiries...

Journalists provide one in ten FOI requests
New survey reveals requests from reporters are more complex and take longer to process

Paper makes formal FOI complaint over 'compensation claim' request
Council refused to reveal documents - but editor pledges not to give up

Council chief forced to reveal pay rise after News & Star probe
Political editor wins freedom of information appeal

Press freedom boosts Editors' profile
Keith Sutton says Society is more widely known than ever before

Editor withdraws FOI complaint to avoid harming future cases
News man says value of Act is "strictly limited"

Police overtime bill uncovered by FOI request
Political editor uses information tool to find the real cost of the scramble for election votes

Chief reporter wins access to financial dealings despite failed FOI request
"FOI Act not the only way of wringing details out of councils"

Have you made a Freedom of Information request to the police?
Feedback sought for study into the effectiveness of new Act

New laws help weekly paper ferret out stories
FoI Act 'valuable tool for reporters and great source of information for readers'

Evening Press uncovers 'stealth tax' on motorists
Freedom of Information Act is helping York paper "dig beneath the surface"

Evening paper wins apology over FOI censoring
Passage cut from minutes should have been disclosed

FOI Act helps news group keep check on Government quango spending
Political editor reveals how much public money is spent on corporate hospitality and entertainment

Political editor puts FOI Act to the test
Compare Post man's results with your own efforts to scour official records

Home Office supplies FOI answer within two hours
North East paper ready to claim record after prison's 'commercial secrets' are revealed

Cost of council trips abroad revealed after newspaper's FOI probe
New laws help political journalist discover where taxpayers money is being spent

FoI success for North East weekly
"Democracy is best served by openness and disclosure" - editor

MEN left wanting more after test on new FOI laws
Authorities failed to fully answer questions in eight out of 15 cases

Commons motion praises Gazette's FOI probe
Chief reporter puts new laws to good use to investigate property deal

Papers reveal behind-the-scenes news thanks to FOI
Regional titles get results from questions they could never before ask

New users' guide to information laws
Campaign for Freedom of Information launches new 'how to' guide

Journalists make 2,000 FOI requests
Lord Falconer says new system has "sown the seeds of cultural change"

News group puts FOI to the test
Facts and figures revealed - but council holds back on car parking issue

FOI FAQ
How it operates and how to use it - we answer your questions here

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'Right to know', not'need to know'
By the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton

'No sympathy' for bodies which fail to meet the law
Excuses from public bodies "will not wash"

Freedom of Information- a brief guide
Fight for openness was supported by journalism bodies

Public bodies 'not ready' for Freedom of Information

Local press to provide forum for debate under FOI

Freedom of Information pointers on offer

Journalists 'ignorant' on vital tool of the trade
Internet chief warns on being under-prepared for freedom of information changes

Public services shrouded in official secrecy, claim editors
News staff tell of the obstacles and excuses which hamper reporting

Press freedom plea to editors
Regional press is asked to give insight on barriers to reporting