Freedom of Information

The freedom of information is one of the best pieces of law that we have probably ever had.  It allows you to ask questions to ANY government authority.  As long as it costs less than 450 (18 hours worth of work), then you can ask it, and it HAS to be answered within 20 working days.  As I stated in my previous entry, you are paying for this money through your taxes.  Don't you want to know what they know?  Don't you want to know what they are up to?

Now the reasons for the restriction is simple.  Information costs to make, analyse, and store.  Not only that, with the huge amount of information that a council (Or any government department) creates in a Day, it would be inconceivable to ask them for all the information that they have.  Not only that it makes it simpler for the person that is searching for the information to give it to you (If you want to know more on how that information is stored and located you can find out more from here).  You have to make sure that the request is:

1. Timebound
2. Precise
3. Not a confidential matter (for example, an individual who is not you)

Other than those points, really it is game on (For example, this one of mine).   

So why is this a great piece of law for us?  It means that you can ask question to YOUR  government organisations about information that is interesting to you. Not only that it means that you are keeping a check on the things that the government agency is doing.  Remember it is YOUR money that they are spending.

Don't you want to know how much money is being spending on their lunch?  Don't you want to know what meetings the council has had about their social service?  Don't you want to know how much has been spent on road traffic improvements?

By asking these questions we are able to keep a tab of them and find out what they are doing.  Not only that we are able to find out how they work AND what they are doing for you. Not only that but it help people who are not happy with their council find out what are the things that restrict what they can and cannot do for you.  I

Remember that ALL government departments have things which they can and cannot do and things which impact that. The Freedom of INformation act helps us to understand their predicament and helps us to know what WE can do.