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<% @title = "Unhappy about a Freedom of Information request?" %>
<% if @info_request %>
<h1>Unhappy about the response you got
to your request '<%=request_link(@info_request) %>'?
</h1>
<% else %>
<h1>Unhappy about the response you got?</h1>
<% end %>
<p>If ...</p>
<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 refused, but without a reason valid under the law</li>
</ul>
<p>... you can</p>
<ol>
<li>Ask for an <strong>internal review</strong> at the public authority.</li>
<li>If that doesn't help, complain to the <strong>Information Commissioner</strong>.</li>
<li>Either way, also <strong>use other means</strong> to answer your question.</li>
</ol>
<h1 id="internal_review">1. Asking for an internal review <a class="hover_a" href="#internal_review">#</a> </h1>
<p>
<% if @info_request %>
<%= link_to "Request an internal review", new_request_followup_path(:request_id => @info_request.id) + "?internal_review=1#followup", :class => 'link_button_green request-internal-review-action' %> and then write a message asking the authority to review your request.
<% else %>
At the bottom of the relevant request page on <%= site_name %> choose
"request an internal review". Then write a message asking for an internal
review of your request. You may want to include a link to the
request page, to make it clear which request you are talking about.
<% end %>
</p>
<p>Internal reviews should be quick. If one takes longer than 20 working days
then the authority should write and let you know, and it should never take
longer than 40 working days (see this
<a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/detailed_specialist_guides/foi_good_practice_guidance_5.pdf">good
practice guide</a>).
You will then either get the information that
you originally requested, or you will be told that the review upholds the
original decision.
</p>
<h1 id="complaining">2. Complaining to the Information Commissioner <a class="hover_a" href="#complaining">#</a> </h1>
<p>If you are still unhappy after the public authority has done their internal review,
then you can complain to the Information Commissioner. To do this read
<a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/freedom_of_information.aspx">Complaints about Freedom of Information</a>
on the Information Commissioner's website. If you requested information from a Scottish
authority, then <a href="http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/HowToAppeal/Appeal.asp">appeal
to the Scottish Information Commissioner</a>.
</p>
<p>To make it easier to send the relevant information to the
Information Commissioner, either
<% if @info_request %>
include a link to your request
<strong><%=h request_url(@info_request) %></strong>
<% else %>
include a link to your request on <%= site_name %>
<% end %>
in your complaint or print out the whole page of your request and all attachments.
</p>
<p><%= site_name %> has no special facilities for handling a request at this stage - it
passes into the Information Commissioner's system. You can leave annotations on your
request keeping people informed of progress.</p>
<p>A warning. There is a backlog of work at the Information Commissioner, and
it can take literally years to get resolution from them. If you reach this point,
you should accept that you won't get the information quickly by this means. Maybe
you want to help the fight to improve Freedom of Information, or maybe
getting the information slowly is still worthwhile. You can also try and
get the information by <strong>other means...</strong></p>
<h1 id="other_means">3. Using other means to answer your question <a class="hover_a" href="#other_means">#</a> </h1>
<p>You can try persuing your problem or your research in other ways.</p>
<ul>
<li>Make a <strong>new FOI request</strong> for summary information, or for
documentation relating indirectly to matters in your refused request.
<a href="<%= help_contact_path %>">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>
<li>Write to <strong>your MP</strong> or other politician using <a
href="http://www.writetothem.com">WriteToThem</a> and ask for their help
finding the answer. MPs can write directly to ministers or departments, and
can ask written questions in the House of Commons. Councillors in local authorities
can talk directly to council officers.</li>
<% if can_ask_the_eu?(@country_code) %>
<li>
Try <%= link_to 'asking for the information from the European Union',
'http://www.asktheeu.org' %>. Every one of the 500 million people
living in the European Union (both citizens and residents) has the
legally guaranteed right to ask for information from EU authorities.
<%= link_to 'Ask The EU', 'http://www.asktheeu.org' %> is a version of
this website for the European Union.
</li>
<% end %>
<li>Ask <strong>other researchers</strong> who are interested in a similar
issue to yours for ideas. You can sometimes find them by browsing this site;
contact any registered user from their page. There may be an Internet
forum or group that they hang out in. If it is a local matter, use <a
href="http://www.groupsnearyou.com">GroupsNearYou</a> to find such a
forum.</li>
<li>You could form a small local campaign group and arrange a meeting
with staff from the authority.</li>
</ul>
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