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Steve Bailey Records Manager JISC

It’s another letter from that journalist; shall I just throw it away? - Are you ready for the Freedom of Information Act?. Steve Bailey Records Manager JISC. FOIA 2000 - Overview. From January 2005 anyone, anywhere has the right to:

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Steve Bailey Records Manager JISC

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  1. It’s another letter from that journalist; shall I just throw it away? - Are you ready for the Freedom of Information Act? Steve Bailey Records Manager JISC

  2. FOIA 2000 - Overview • From January 2005 anyone, anywhere has the right to: • Be told whether the information they require exists within your institution • To receive that information… • …unless one of 23 specific exemptions applies • 20 working days to respond to such requests • The Act is fully retrospective!

  3. Lets not bother • More government bureaucracy • Taking money away from teaching • Don’t have the staff to devote to it • It will all be a damp squib, just like the Data Protection Act • We’re not high profile • We have an MIS system in place • We’ve nothing to hide… • Its too late now anyway

  4. THINK AGAIN!Time to reconsider

  5. How much did the Principal spend on expenses last year? • I’d like a full copy of the minutes of last month’s College Council meeting • I’d like a copy of your current contract with your IT supplier • I’d like to see everything connected with the merger with Blogshire College in 1978 • I’d like to come in to see the plans for the proposed new campus rumoured to be near my house • How much have you spent on library books each year for the past decade? • How many Asian students have achieved A-C grade GCSE’s in the last five years • Please send me a copy of your course brochure

  6. Each poses a different challenge • Do you have to answer it? • If so, which bits might you be able to withhold? • Are your suppliers aware that you might have to disclose this info? • Do you know where the information is? • Can you guarantee you can answer it within 20 working days? • Who might receive the enquiry and will they know how to respond? • Can you justify why you have destroyed some information? • Who’s going to co-ordinate all of this?

  7. Who might use the Act? • Journalists • Local residents • (prospective) students • Parents • Commercial suppliers • Competitors • Staff (current and former) • Those with an axe to grind

  8. But its not all bad news

  9. Reasons to be cheerful • Traditional openness of the sector • We have nothing to hide • FOI as an opportunity • Sell yourself and what you do • Streamline areas of your administration • Benefits to your staff • Your not alone • Help is out there

  10. Don’t let the following be a scene from your College come January

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