diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'app/views/help')
| -rw-r--r-- | app/views/help/about.rhtml | 259 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | app/views/help/unhappy.rhtml | 4 |
2 files changed, 198 insertions, 65 deletions
diff --git a/app/views/help/about.rhtml b/app/views/help/about.rhtml index a67c65009..5ff22b23f 100644 --- a/app/views/help/about.rhtml +++ b/app/views/help/about.rhtml @@ -58,6 +58,28 @@ If you like what we're doing, then you can <h1 id="making_requests">Making requests <a href="#making_requests">#</a> </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">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> @@ -70,6 +92,29 @@ to hear from you too. </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> @@ -111,18 +156,20 @@ annotations after submitting the request). <p>Making an FOI request is nearly always free.</p> -<p>Sometimes an authority will reject your request, saying that the cost +<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> - -<p>There are other rare cases where an authority may say that they want to charge you, such as for postage -or photocopying. Either way, don't worry, the authority cannot make a charge unless you have -specifically agreed in advance to pay it. <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> </dd> @@ -131,21 +178,18 @@ href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/prac <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 "promptly", and in most cases not -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 if they are breaking the -law.</p> +<p>By law, public authorities must respond <strong>promptly</strong> to +requests. +</p> -<p>There are some cases where the hard deadline is 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> +<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="#days">full details</a>). -<p>Remember though, they should anyway have responded promptly.</p> +<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> @@ -174,6 +218,21 @@ details about what is allowed. </p> then read our page '<a href="/help/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="#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> @@ -209,28 +268,35 @@ immediately so we can remove it.</p> <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>WhatDoTheyKnow is currently only designed for public requests. All +<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. You should contact the public authority directly if you would like to +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">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>Some public authorities, such as <a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/south_east_water">South East Water</a>, +<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). 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 you write you request, it reminds you that you can only -request "environmental information" and tells you what that means. It is quite broad. -</dd> +the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). +</p> -<dt id="eir_2">So can I request information using EIR from other authorities? <a href="#eir_2">#</a> </dt> +<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> -<dd>Yes, just make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request as normal. The +<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> @@ -280,7 +346,8 @@ you ask us to. <dd> <p>We publish your request on the Internet so that anybody can read it and -make use of the information that you have found. +make use of the information that you have found. We do not normally delete +requests (<a href="#delete_requests">more details</a>). </p> <p> Your name is tangled up with your request, so has to be published as well. @@ -317,7 +384,7 @@ Information Commissioner later about the handling of your request. <ul> <li>Use a different form of your name. The guidance says that "Mr Arthur Thomas Roberts" can make a valid request as "Arthur Roberts", -"A. T. Roberts", or "Mr Roberts", but not as "Arthur" or "A.T.R.". +"A. T. Roberts", or "Mr Roberts", but <strong>not</strong> as "Arthur" or "A.T.R.". </li> <li>Women may use their maiden name.</li> <li>In most cases, you may use any name by which you are "widely known and/or @@ -326,7 +393,7 @@ is regularly used". a company, or the trading name of a sole trader. <li>Ask someone else to make the request on your behalf. <li>You may, if you are really stuck, ask us to make the request on -your behalf. Please <a href="/help/about">contact us</a> with +your behalf. Please <a href="/help/contact">contact us</a> with a good reason why you cannot make the request yourself and cannot ask a friend to. We don't have the resources to do this for everyone. </ul> @@ -335,6 +402,28 @@ ask a friend to. We don't have the resources to do this for everyone. </dd> +<dt id="delete_requests">Can you delete my requests, or alter my name? <a href="#delete_requests">#</a> </dt> + +<dd> + +<p>WhatDoTheyKnow is a permanent, public archive of Freedom of +Information requests. Even though you may not find the response to +a request useful any more, it may be of interest to others. For this +reason, we will not delete requests. +</p> + +<p>Under exceptional circumstances we may remove or change your name +on the website, following similar policy as for the names of +public servants. Similarly, we may also remove other personal information. See +'<a href="#takedown">Can you take down personal information about me?</a>'. +</p> + +<p>If you're worried about this before you make your request, +see the section on <a href="#real_name">pseudonyms</a>.</p> + +</dd> + + <dt id="full_address">They've asked for my postal address! <a href="#full_address">#</a> </dt> <dd> @@ -470,7 +559,7 @@ needing any email, using the "respond to request" link at the bottom of each request page. </dd> -<dt id="days">You've calculated our deadline wrongly!<a href="#days">#</a> </dt> +<dt id="days">How do you calculate the deadline shown on request pages?<a href="#days">#</a> </dt> <dd> <p>The Freedom of Information Act says:</p> @@ -493,7 +582,7 @@ to have more of that complexity visible.</p> </dd> -<dt id="days2">But really, you calculated it wrong!<a href="#days2">#</a> </dt> +<dt id="days2">But really, how do you calculate the deadline?<a href="#days2">#</a> </dt> <dd> @@ -503,45 +592,78 @@ 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> +<p>That said, WhatDoTheyKnow does show the maximum legal deadline +for response on each request. Here's how we calculate it.</p> <ul> <li>If the day we deliver the request by email is a working day, we count that -as "day zero", even if it was delivered late in the evening. Days end at midnight. -We then count the next working day as "day one", and so on up to 20 days.</li> +as "day zero", even if it was delivered late in the evening. Days end at +midnight. We then count the next working day as "day one", and so on up to +<strong>20 working days</strong>.</li> <li>If the day the request email was delivered was a non-working day, we count 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>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 want more time, such as if -somebody is on holiday and they can't find the information. When -there's going to be any delay at all, 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>Requesters are encouraged to mark when they have <strong>clarified</strong> +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> -<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> +<p>The date thus calculated is shown on requests with the text "By law, +Liverpool City Council should normally have responded by...". There is only +one case which is not normal, see the next question about +<a href="#public_interest_test">public interest test time extensions</a>. +</p> -<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> +<p>Schools are also a special case, which WhatDoTheyKnow displays differently. +</p> +<ul> +<li>Since June 2009, <strong>schools</strong> have "20 working days +disregarding any working day which is not a school day, or 60 working days, +whichever is first" (<a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/draft/ukdsi_9780111477632_en_1">FOI (Time for Compliance with Request) Regulations 2009</a>). WhatDoTheyKnow indicates on requests to schools that the 20 day deadline is only +during term time, and shows them as definitely overdue after 60 working days +</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>. +<p>If you're getting really nerdy about all 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>. That's really what matters.</p> </dd> +<dt id="public_interest_test">How do you reflect time extensions for public interest tests?<a href="#public_interest_test">#</a> </dt> + +<dd> + +<p>The Freedom of Information Act lets authorities claim an indefinite time +extension when applying a <strong>public interest test</strong>. Information +Commissioner guidance says that it should only be used in "exceptionally +complex" cases +(<a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/detailed_specialist_guides/foi_good_practice_guidance_4.pdf">FOI Good Practice Guidance No. 4</a>). +WhatDoTheyKnow doesn't specifically handle this case, which is why we use the +phrase "should normally have responded by" when the 20 working day time is +exceeded. +</p> + +<p>The same guidance says that, even in exceptionally complex cases, no +Freedom of Information request should take more than <strong>40 working days</strong> +to answer. WhatDoTheyKnow displays requests which are overdue by that much +with stronger wording to indicate they are definitely late. +</p> + +<p>The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act does not allow such a public +interest extension. WhatDoTheyKnow would like to see the law changed to either +remove the extension from the UK Act, or to reintroduce an absolute time limit +of 40 working days even with the extension (the House of Lords <a +href="http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2000-10-17&number=1&house=lords">voted +to remove</a> provision for such a time limit during the initial passage +of the UK Act through Parliament). +</p> +</dd> + <dt id="large_file">How can I send a large file, which won't go by email?<a href="#large_file">#</a> </dt> <dd>Instead of email, you can respond to a request directly from your web @@ -592,9 +714,14 @@ that authorities resend these with the personal information removed.</p> <dt id="mobiles">Do you publish email addresses or mobile phone numbers? <a href="#mobiles">#</a> </dt> -<dd>We automatically remove some emails and mobile numbers from responses to requests. -Please <a href="/help/contact">contact us</a> if we've missed one. -For technical reasons we don't remove them all from attachments, such as PDFs. +<dd><p>To prevent spam, we automatically remove most emails and some mobile numbers from +responses to requests. Please <a href="/help/contact">contact us</a> if we've +missed one. +For technical reasons we don't always remove them from attachments, such as certain PDFs.</p> +<p>If you need to know what an address was that we've removed, please <a + href="/help/contact">get in touch with us</a>. Occasionally, an email address +forms an important part of a response and we will post it up in an obscured +form in an annotation. </dd> <dt id="copyright"><a name="commercial"></a>What is your policy on copyright of documents?<a href="#copyright">#</a> </dt> @@ -650,8 +777,14 @@ requests, and for good public relations, we'd advise you not to do that. </li> <li> The amazing team of volunteers who run the site, answer your support - emails, maintain the database of public authorities and so much more. - Thanks to Tony Bowden, John Cross, Adam McGreggor, Alex Skene, Richard Taylor. + emails, maintain the database of public authorities and + <a href="http://www.mysociety.org/2009/10/13/behind-whatdotheyknow/">so much more</a>. + Thanks to John Cross, Ben Harris, Adam McGreggor, Alex Skene, + Richard Taylor. +</li> +<li> + Volunteers who have provided patches to the code - thanks Peter Collingbourne + and Tony Bowden. </li> <li> Everyone who has helped look up FOI email addresses. diff --git a/app/views/help/unhappy.rhtml b/app/views/help/unhappy.rhtml index cd302a81a..432c00f2e 100644 --- a/app/views/help/unhappy.rhtml +++ b/app/views/help/unhappy.rhtml @@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ to your request '<%=request_link(@info_request) %>'? <ul> <li>You didn't get a reply within 20 working days</li> <li>You did not get all of the information that you requested <strong>or</strong></li> -<li>Your request was rejected, but without a reason valid under the law</li> +<li>Your request was refused, but without a reason valid under the law</li> </ul> <p>... you can</p> @@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ get the information by <strong>other means...</strong></p> <ul> <li>Make a <strong>new FOI request</strong> for summary information, or for -documentation relating indirectly to matters in your rejected request. +documentation relating indirectly to matters in your refused request. <a href="/help/contact">Ask us for ideas</a> if you're stuck.</li> <li>If any <strong>other public authorities</strong> or publicly owned companies are involved, then make FOI requests to them.</li> |