ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Martin,

What, do you reckon, are the chances of obtaining the following information through a FOI Request to the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ.

Q. Provision of the statistics as to how many times (that) any of the processes referred to in the Agreement between the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ & HM's Secretary of State for National Heritage (dated 25/1/96), Section 8. DEFENCE AND EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS (copy available here) have been enacted. Not the details of the processes themselves (i.e the broadcasting or non-broadcasting of items requested by a Government Minister), but just the statistics.

After all, the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ when sending such an announcement or other matter may at its discretion announce or refrain from announcing that it is sent at the request of a named Minister. The release of this information is therefore at the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's discretion.

What do you reckon? Has anyone tried to garner this info before?

You might want to cover the government's use of Crown Copyright to stifle the Freedom of Information act when you get back. See the open democracy article on how the government is using Crown Copyright to prevent Craig Murray, former ambassador to Usbekistan, from publishing FOI information on his website. Pretty soon they might close down your blog too!

Hello Martin

I’m a bit confused by how the FOI applies to the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ.

The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ say β€œthe Act does not apply to information held for the purposes of creating the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s output (TV, radio, online etc), or information that supports and is closely associated with these creative activities.”

That’s not what the FOI says but that’s by the by. What I don’t understand is what does the FOI Act actually apply to??? Surely everything the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ do is associated with creating the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s output?

Iver -
Sorry for delay in responding. I'm not aware of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ having been asked for or disclosed this information, but then I don't deal with incoming FOI requests.
The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ publishes a selection of its disclosures at /foi/docs/freedom_of_information.shtml, so it's worth checking that.
I can't say what the chances are of any information being disclosed, since it's not my responsibility, but if you want to pursue it you should email foi@bbc.co.uk with your request.

Jenny -
Again, apologies for delay in responding.
What the FOI Act says is that the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ is only covered by FOI "in respect of information held for purposes other than those of journalism, art or literature". The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's view of what this means is as you yourself quote in your comment. Doubtless this will be tested by certain cases in the future.
You can see the sort of information which the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ has disclosed under FOI on the disclosures log at /foi/docs/freedom_of_information.shtml. There's plenty of it.