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Diffstat (limited to 'app/views/help/about.rhtml')
| -rw-r--r-- | app/views/help/about.rhtml | 54 |
1 files changed, 33 insertions, 21 deletions
diff --git a/app/views/help/about.rhtml b/app/views/help/about.rhtml index 5baea6ed0..41974573a 100644 --- a/app/views/help/about.rhtml +++ b/app/views/help/about.rhtml @@ -132,19 +132,18 @@ href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/prac <dd> <p>By law public authorities must respond "promptly", and in most cases not -later than 20 working days after receiving your request. The date of that hard -limit is shown on the page for your request. </p> +later than 20 working days after receiving your request. That date +is shown on the page for your request. </p> <p>You will be emailed if this date goes by without a response, so you can send -the public authority another note to remind them that they are breaking the -law. </p> +the public authority another note to remind them if they are breaking the +law.</p> -<p><strong>Note:</strong> If you had to -clarify your request, the clock starts from that date, instead of the date they -received your initial request.</p> - -<p>See '<a href="#days">You've calculated our deadline wrongly!</a>' for -more details.</p> +<p>There are some cases where the authority is legally allowed to go beyond the +20 day period, such as if you had to clarify your request, or if they are a +school. They will normally say if they are invoking such a reason. +See '<a href="#days">You've calculated our deadline wrongly!</a>' for +details about what is allowed.</p> </dd> @@ -496,10 +495,15 @@ to have more of that complexity visible.</p> <dd> -<p>The answer to the previous question not withstanding, WhatDoTheyKnow does -attempt to show the maximum legal deadline for response to each request. Here is -the complex detail of how we calculate it, and some things we currently get -wrong.</p> +<p>Please read the answer to the previous question first. Legally, authorities +must respond <strong>promptly</strong> to FOI requests. If they fail to do that, +it is best if they show the hard work they are doing by explaining what is +taking the extra time to do. +</p> + +<p>That said, WhatDoTheyKnow does attempt to show the maximum legal deadline +for response to each request. Here is the complex detail of how we calculate +it.</p> <ul> @@ -511,21 +515,29 @@ We then count the next working day as "day one", and so on up to 20 days.</li> the next working day as "day one". Delivery is delivery, even if it happened on the weekend. Some authorities <a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/policy_regarding_body_scans#incoming-1100">disagree with this</a>, our lawyer disagrees with them. </li> -<li>We don't currently count extensions for Public Interest tests. Sorry -about that, we're working on how best to present it on the site.</li> +<li>In theory, authorities can claim a time extension for applying a public +interest test. We don't think this should be a special reason for delay. There +are lots of other good reasons the authority might need more time, such as if +somebody is on holiday and they can't find the information. We prefer it if +authorities simply apologise and explain what they are doing that is taking the +extra time, rather than resorting to legal minutiae. +</li> + -<li>Since June 2009, schools now have "20 working days disregarding any working -day which is not a school day, or 60 working days, whichever is first". We -don't currently allow for that, but intend to in some way, especially if we add -more schools.</li> +<li>Since June 2009, schools have "20 working days disregarding any working +day which is not a school day, or 60 working days, whichever is first". Basically, +cut them some slack if it is holiday time. +</li> <li>Requesters are encouraged to mark when they have clarified their request so the clock resets, but sometimes they get this wrong. If you see a problem with a particular request, let us know and we'll fix it.</li> - </ul> +<p>If you're getting really nerdy about this, read the <a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/detailed_specialist_guides/timeforcompliance.pdf">detailed ICO guidance</a>. Meanwhile, +remember that the law says authorities must respond <strong>promptly</strong>. + </dd> <dt id="large_file">How can I send a large file, which won't go by email?<a href="#large_file">#</a> </dt> |