From c52742cb7c587ed7486686e8ddbe2c4fe51e4365 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Seb Bacon Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:36:23 +0000 Subject: various help files that would normally need to be localised --- lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml | 285 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 285 insertions(+) create mode 100644 lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml (limited to 'lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml') diff --git a/lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml b/lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..034bb31 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml @@ -0,0 +1,285 @@ +<% @title = "Making requests" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> + +

<%= @title %> #

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+ +
I'm not sure which authority to make my request to, how can I find out? #
+ +
+

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: +

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  • Browse or search WhatDoTheyKnow looking for similar requests to yours.
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  • 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.
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  • Contact the authority by phone or email to ask if they hold the kind of +information you're after.
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  • 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. +
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  • If you've got a thorny case, please contact us for help.
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+ +
+ + + +
You're missing the public authority that I want to request from! #
+ +
+

Please contact us with the name of the public authority and, +if you can find it, their contact email address for Freedom of Information requests. +

+

If you'd like to help add a whole category of public authority to the site, we'd love +to hear from you too. +

+ +
+ +
Why do you include some authorities that aren't formally subject to FOI?#
+ +
+

WhatDoTheyKnow lets you make requests for information to a range of +organisations:

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  • Those formally subject to the FOI Act
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  • Those formally subject to the Environmental Regulations (a less well + defined group)
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  • Those which voluntarily comply with the FOI Act
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  • Those which aren't subject to the Act but we think should be, on grounds + such as them having significant public responsibilities. +
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+ +

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. +

+ +
+ +
Why must I keep my request focused?#
+ +
+ +

+Please put in your request only what is needed so that someone can +easily identify what information you are asking for. Please do +not include any of the following: +

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  • arguments about your cause
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  • statements that could defame or insult others
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+ +

+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. +

+ +

+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). +

+ +
+ +
Does it cost me anything to make a request?#
+ +
+ +

Making an FOI request is nearly always free.

+ +

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. More + details from the Information Commissioner. +

+ +

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. +

+ +
+ + + +
How quickly will I get a response? #
+ +
+

By law, public authorities must respond promptly to +requests. +

+ +

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 +(full details). + +

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.

+ +
+ +
What if I never get a response?#
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+

There are several things you can do if you never get a response.

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  • 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. +
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  • If they have not received it, the problem is most likely due to + "spam filters". Refer the authority to the measures in the answer + 'I can see a request on WhatDoTheyKnow, but we never got it by email!' + in the FOI officers section of this help. +
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  • 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 'Unhappy about the response you got?'. +
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+ +
What if I'm not satisfied with the response? #
+
If you didn't get the information you asked for, or you didn't get it in time, +then read our page 'Unhappy about the response you got?'. +
+ +
It says I can't re-use the information I got!#
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+

Authorities often add legal boilerplate about the +"Re-Use of Public Sector +Information Regulations 2005", which at first glance implies you may not +be able do anything with the information. +

+ +

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 our policy on copyright.

+ +
+ +
Can you tell me more of the nitty gritty about the process of making requests? #
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+

Have a look at the +access to official information +pages on the Information Commissioner's website.

+ +

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 Scottish +Information Commissioner's guidance for details.

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+ +
Can I request information about myself? #
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+

No. Requests made using WhatDoTheyKnow are public, made under the Freedom of +Information Act, and cannot help you find information about a private +individual.

+ +

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 "How to access your information" (on the Information Commissioner's +website) explains how to do this.

+ +

If you see that somebody has included personal information, perhaps +unwittingly, in a request, please contact us +immediately so we can remove it.

+
+ + +
I'd like to keep my request secret! (At least until I publish my story) #
+ +

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 +make a request in private. If you're interested in buying a system which helps +you manage FOI requests in secret, then contact us. +

+
+ +
Why can I only request information about the environment from some authorities? #
+ +
+

Some public authorities, such as South East Water, +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 your write you request, it reminds you +that you can only request "environmental information" and tells you what that +means. It is quite broad. +

+ +

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. +

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+ +
Can I make the same to request to lots of authorities, e.g. all councils? #
+ +
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. + +
+ +
I made a request off the site, how do I upload it to the archive?#
+ +
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. +
+ +
How do you moderate request annotations? #
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+

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. +

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Endless, political discussions are not allowed. +Post a link to a suitable forum or campaign site elsewhere.

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Next, read about your privacy --> + +

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