Freedom of Information
I recently posted the summary decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner - regarding censorship in South Lanarkshire.
Here's a plain speaking explanation about the background to the SIC decision - my words and my interpretation, I should add - not those of SIC.
1 I asked South Lanarkshire to explain what happened in Equal Pay Review the council agreed to conduct in 2007.
2 The council refused to tell me, but said this information was contained in various minutes and reports - which I was welcome to request.
3 I duly asked for all of the information which the council at first refused to provide - so I had to go to all the bother of submitting a separate review request under FOISA.
4 The council then gave me the information - but decided to censor a key part of one document.
5 I then appealed to the Scottish Information Commissioner under FOISA - and he agreed that the council should disclose the information - because in his opinion it belonged in the public domain.
6 Several months later I am still waiting on a reply - although the council has been ordered to provide me with this information by 2 September 2011.
Labour-led South Lanarkshire Council - it should be emphasised - claims to be a supporter of Freedom of Information.
Here's a plain speaking explanation about the background to the SIC decision - my words and my interpretation, I should add - not those of SIC.
1 I asked South Lanarkshire to explain what happened in Equal Pay Review the council agreed to conduct in 2007.
2 The council refused to tell me, but said this information was contained in various minutes and reports - which I was welcome to request.
3 I duly asked for all of the information which the council at first refused to provide - so I had to go to all the bother of submitting a separate review request under FOISA.
4 The council then gave me the information - but decided to censor a key part of one document.
5 I then appealed to the Scottish Information Commissioner under FOISA - and he agreed that the council should disclose the information - because in his opinion it belonged in the public domain.
6 Several months later I am still waiting on a reply - although the council has been ordered to provide me with this information by 2 September 2011.
Labour-led South Lanarkshire Council - it should be emphasised - claims to be a supporter of Freedom of Information.
