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diff --git a/lib/views/help/requesting.html.erb b/lib/views/help/requesting.html.erb new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7787d15 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/views/help/requesting.html.erb @@ -0,0 +1,286 @@ +<% @title = "Making requests" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> +<div id="left_column_flip"> + +<h1 id="making_requests"><%= @title %> <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 <%= site_name %> 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> +<p>Please <a href="/help/contact">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><%= site_name %> 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#days">full details</a>). + +<p><%= site_name %> 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="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#spam_problems">I can see a request on <%= site_name %>, 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/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/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#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 <%= site_name %> 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">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><%= site_name %> 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">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 <%= site_name %> 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><%= site_name %> 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 <%= site_name %>. +</dd> + +<dt id="moderation">How do you moderate request annotations? <a href="#moderation">#</a> </dt> + +<dd> +<p>Annotations on <%= site_name %> 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">your privacy</a> --> + +<div id="hash_link_padding"></div> + +</div> |