Freedom of Information Act 2000

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Freedom of Information Act 2000
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Aims of the FOI Act

• To promote a culture of Openness and
  accountability, amongst Public Sector bodies by
  providing people with rights of access to
  information held by them.

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Aims of the FOI Act

• From January 2005, people will have the right to
  make a request for any information held by a
  Public Authority this right is subject to a
  number of exemptions which permit the withholding
  of information.

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FOI requires

• FOI moves the focus from a need to know to a
  right to know
• A change of culture within the University in
  relation to how we manage Information.

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What is the Publications Scheme ?

• Each Public Authority will be required to make
  information available via a Publications Scheme.
  A Publications Scheme is the Authorities
  commitment to make certain information available
  and guidance on how that information can be
  obtained.

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Our Publication Scheme

• Our approved scheme can be viewed at
• www.londonmet.ac.uk/foi

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How to access Information

• There are two routes to accessing information.
• Via the approved Publication Scheme.
• The public will be able to make a separate
  request in January 2005 when the general right
  comes into force, to any information whether in
  the publication scheme or not.

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Requests for information

• Requests must be made in writing, which includes
  email. The request must state the name and
  address of the person applying for the
  information and the required information.

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Procedure for dealing with FOI requests

• Requests for information have to be responded
  to, within 20 days
• Such requests should be forwarded to the Data
  Controller, John McParland in the first instance.

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Records Management its relevance to FOI

• Creating the right records to provide evidence
  of justify decisions made
• Answering enquiries in 20 days!
• Justify destruction

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Records Management

• An effective Records Management Programme, in
  information retrieval is paramount to the success
  of this scheme and this is something we are
  working towards.

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What is Records Management ?

• Records Management is responsible for the
  efficient systematic control of the creation,
  receipt, maintenance, use and disposition of
  records, including processes for capturing and
  maintaining evidence of and information about
  business activities transactions in the form of
  records.

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What is Records Management ?

• Applies to all records created, received or
  maintained by staff whilst carrying out their
  corporate functions.
• Applies to records held in all formats.

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The benefits of good Record Management

• Corporate accountability
• Legal compliance
• Increased administrative efficiency
• Reduced running costs
• Organisational continuity
• Knowledge Management

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Dangers of bad or no Records Management

• Lack of accountability
• Legal risk
• No/inaccurate evidence to justify actions
• Not able to comply to Data Protection Principles
  5,6,7

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Dangers of bad or no RecordsManagement

• Uninformed decision making
• Risk to assets evidential physical
• Wasted resources
• Damage to reputation

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Differences

• The difference between FOI and the DPA
  
• If you wish to obtain information about
  yourself, then the DPA will apply and you should
  complete a Subject Access Request Form.
• If the information that you are requesting is
  not about you, but in relation to a Public
  Authority, then the FOI Act will apply.

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Further Information

• The Complete FOI Act can be viewed at
• http//www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.
  htm
• Information Commission
• http//www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/eventual
  .aspx?id33
• Records and Compliance Officer Re Student
  Other Records on 020 7320 3053
• John McParland University Secretary on 020 7739
  2004.