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diff --git a/app/views/help/requesting.html.erb b/app/views/help/requesting.html.erb new file mode 100644 index 000000000..e7cfdd199 --- /dev/null +++ b/app/views/help/requesting.html.erb @@ -0,0 +1,293 @@ +<% @title = "Making requests" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> +<div id="left_column_flip"> + <h1 id="making_requests"><%= @title %></h1> + <dl> + + <dt id="which_authority">I'm not sure which authority to make my request to, how can I find out? <a href="#which_authority">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>It can be hard to untangle government's complicated structured, and work out + who knows the information that you want. Here are a few tips: + <ul> + <li>Browse or search WhatDoTheyKnow looking for similar requests to yours.</li> + <li>When you've found an authority you think might have the information, use + the "home page" link on the right hand side of their page to check what they do + on their website.</li> + <li>Contact the authority by phone or email to ask if they hold the kind of + information you're after.</li> + <li>Don't worry excessively about getting the right authority. If you get it + wrong, they ought to advise you who to make the request to instead. + </li> + <li>If you've got a thorny case, please <a href="<%= help_contact_path %>">contact us</a> for help.</li> + </ul> + + </dd> + + + + <dt id="missing_body">You're missing the public authority that I want to request from! <a href="#missing_body">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>Please <a href="<%= help_contact_path %>">contact us</a> with the name of the public authority and, + if you can find it, their contact email address for Freedom of Information requests. + </p> + <p>If you'd like to help add a whole category of public authority to the site, we'd love + to hear from you too. + </p> + + </dd> + + <dt id="authorities">Why do you include some authorities that aren't formally subject to FOI?<a href="#authorities">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>WhatDoTheyKnow lets you make requests for information to a range of + organisations:</p> + + <ul> + <li> Those formally subject to the FOI Act</li> + <li> Those formally subject to the Environmental Regulations (a less well + defined group)</li> + <li> Those which voluntarily comply with the FOI Act</li> + <li> Those which aren't subject to the Act but we think should be, on grounds + such as them having significant public responsibilities. + </li> + </ul> + + <p>In the last case, we're using the site to lobby for expansion of the + scope of the FOI Act. Even if an organisation is not legally obliged to respond + to an FOI request, they can still do so voluntarily. + </p> + + </dd> + + <dt id="focused">Why must I keep my request focused?<a href="#focused">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + + <p> + Please put in your request only what is needed so that someone can + easily identify what information you are asking for. Please do + <i>not</i> include any of the following: + </p> + + <ul> + <li>arguments about your cause</li> + <li>statements that could defame or insult others</li> + </ul> + + <p> + If you do, we may have to remove your request to avoid problems with + libel law, which is a pain for both you and us. Short, succinct messages + make it easier for authorities to be clear what information you are + requesting, which means you will get a reply more quickly. + </p> + + <p> + If you want information to support an argument or campaign, Freedom of + Information is a powerful tool. Although you may not use this site to + run your campaign, we encourage you to use it to get the information you + need. We also encourage to run your campaign elsewhere - one effective + and very easy way is to <%= link_to 'start your own blog', + "http://wordpress.com/"%>. You are welcome to link to your campaign + from this site in an annotation to your request (you can make + annotations after submitting the request). + </p> + + </dd> + + <dt id="fees">Does it cost me anything to make a request?<a href="#fees">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + + <p>Making an FOI request is nearly always free.</p> + + <p>Authorities often include unnecessary, scary, boilerplate in + acknowledgement messages saying they "may" charge a fee. Ignore such notices. + They hardly ever will actually charge a fee. If they do, they can only charge you if + you have specifically agreed in advance to pay. <a + href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/practical_application/chargingafee.pdf">More + details</a> from the Information Commissioner. + </p> + + <p>Sometimes an authority will refuse your request, saying that the cost + of handling it exceeds £600 (for central government) or £450 (for all other + public authorities). At this point you can refine your + request. e.g. it would be much cheaper for an authority to tell you the amount + spent on marshmallows in the past year than in the past ten years. + </p> + + </dd> + + + + <dt id="quickly_response">How quickly will I get a response? <a href="#quickly_response">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>By law, public authorities must respond <strong>promptly</strong> to + requests. + </p> + + <p>Even if they are not prompt, in nearly all cases they must respond within + 20 working days. If you had to clarify your request, or they are a school, + or one or two other cases, then they may have more time + (<a href="<%= help_officers_path(:anchor => 'days') %>">full details</a>). + + <p>WhatDoTheyKnow will email you if you don't get a timely response. You can + then send the public authority a message to remind them, and tell them if they + are breaking the law.</p> + + </dd> + + <dt id="deadline_extended">Deadline extended <a href="#deadline_extended">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>By law, public authorities must needs <strong>more time</strong> for request ... (TO DO) + </p> + + + </dd> + <dt id="no_response">What if I never get a response?<a href="#no_response">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>There are several things you can do if you never get a response.</p> + <ul> + <li>Sometimes there has been a genuine problem and the authority never + received the request. It is worth telephoning the authority and politely + checking that they received the request. It was sent to them by email. + </li> + <li>If they have not received it, the problem is most likely due to + "spam filters". Refer the authority to the measures in the answer + '<a href="<%= help_officers_path(:anchor => 'spam_problems') %>">I can see a request on WhatDoTheyKnow, but we never got it by email!</a>' + in the FOI officers section of this help. + </li> + <li>If you're still having no luck, then you can ask for an internal review, + and then complain to the Information Commissioner about the authority. + Read our page '<a href="<%= help_general_path(:action => 'unhappy') %>">Unhappy about the response you got?</a>'. + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt id="not_satifised">What if I'm not satisfied with the response? <a href="#not_satifised">#</a> </dt> + <dd>If you didn't get the information you asked for, or you didn't get it in time, + then read our page '<a href="<%= help_general_path(:action => 'unhappy') %>">Unhappy about the response you got?</a>'. + </dd> + + <dt id="reuse">It says I can't re-use the information I got!<a href="#reuse">#</a> </dt> + <dd> + <p>Authorities often add legal boilerplate about the + "<a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051515">Re-Use of Public Sector + Information Regulations 2005</a>", which at first glance implies you may not + be able do anything with the information. + </p> + + <p>You can, of course, write articles about the information or summarise it, or + quote parts of it. We also think you should feel free to republish the + information in full, just as we do, even though in theory you might not be + allowed to do so. See <a href="<%= help_officers_path(:anchor => 'copyright') %>">our policy on copyright</a>.</p> + + </dd> + + <dt id="ico_help">Can you tell me more of the nitty gritty about the process of making requests? <a href="#ico_help">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>Have a look at the + <a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/access_to_official_information.aspx">access to official information</a> + pages on the Information Commissioner's website.</p> + + <p>If you're requesting information from a Scottish public authority, + the process is very similar. There are differences around time + limits for compliance. + See the <a href="http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=1858&sID=321">Scottish + Information Commissioner's guidance</a> for details.</p> + </dd> + + <dt id="data_protection">Can I request information about myself? <a href="#data_protection">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>No. Requests made using WhatDoTheyKnow are public, made under the Freedom of + Information Act, and cannot help you find information about a private + individual.</p> + + <p>If you would like to know what information a public + authority holds about yourself, you should make a "Subject Access Request" in + private using Data Protection law. The leaflet "<a + href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/introductory/subject_access_rights.pdf">How to access your information</a>" (on the Information Commissioner's + website) explains how to do this.</p> + + <p>If you see that somebody has included personal information, perhaps + unwittingly, in a request, please <a href="<%= help_contact_path %>">contact us</a> + immediately so we can remove it.</p> + </dd> + + + <dt id="private_requests">I'd like to keep my request secret! (At least until I publish my story) <a href="#private_requests">#</a> </dt> + + <dd><p>WhatDoTheyKnow is currently only designed for public requests. All + responses that we receive are automatically published on the website for anyone + to read. </p> + <p>You should contact the public authority directly if you would like to + make a request in private. If you're interested in buying a system which helps + you manage FOI requests in secret, then <a href="<%= help_contact_path %>">contact us</a>. + </p> + </dd> + + <dt id="eir">Why can I only request information about the environment from some authorities? <a href="#eir">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>Some public authorities, such as <a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/south_east_water">South East Water</a>, + don't come under the Freedom of Information Act, but do come under another law called + the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). + </p> + + <p>It's a very similar law, so you make a request + to them using WhatDoTheyKnow in just the same way as an FOI request. The only + difference is that on the page where your write you request, it reminds you + that you can only request "environmental information" and tells you what that + means. It is quite broad. + </p> + + <p>You can, of course, request environmental information from other + authorities. Just make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request as normal. The + authority has a duty to work out if the Environmental Information Regulations + (EIR) is the more appropriate legislation to reply under. + </p> + </dd> + + <dt id="multiple">Can I make the same to request to lots of authorities, e.g. all councils? <a href="#multiple">#</a> </dt> + + <dd>We ask you to first send a test version of your request to a few + authorities. Their responses will help you improve the wording of your request, + so that you get the best information when you send the request to all of + the authorities. There is currently no automated system for sending the request + to the other authorities, you must copy and paste it by hand. + + </dd> + + <dt id="offsite">I made a request off the site, how do I upload it to the archive?<a href="#offsite">#</a> </dt> + + <dd>WhatDoTheyKnow is an archive of requests made through the site, + and does not try to be an archive of all FOI requests. We'll never support uploading + other requests. For one thing, we wouldn't be able to verify that other + responses actually came from the authority. If this really matters to you, + you can always make the same request again via WhatDoTheyKnow. + </dd> + + <dt id="moderation">How do you moderate request annotations? <a href="#moderation">#</a> </dt> + + <dd> + <p>Annotations on WhatDoTheyKnow are to help + people get the information they want, or to give them pointers to places they + can go to help them act on it. We reserve the right to remove anything else. + </p> + <p>Endless, political discussions are not allowed. + Post a link to a suitable forum or campaign site elsewhere.</p> + <dd> + + </dl> + + <p><strong>Next</strong>, read about <a href="<%= help_privacy_path %>">your privacy</a> --> + + <div id="hash_link_padding"></div> +</div> + |