100 freedom of information applications

21 November 2006

The Scottish Executive likes keeping secrets. Of 25 appeals made to the independent freedom of information commissioners in the last two years, 17 have been against the Executive.

Scottish civil servants have refused to release information on breaches of European law, farming subsidies, the M74 extension, nuclear waste, nuclear power, beavers, environmental justice, bathing waters and a meeting with the National Farmers' Union in Scotland

An updated analysis of the 100 freedom of information requests I have filed to 29 public agencies since January 2005 also shows that government agencies like the Ministry of Defence and the British Nuclear Group can take over a year to respond - and that the information commissioners in Scotland and England are taking up to 18 months to investigate appeals.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION APPLICATION LOG

Scottish Executive: flights within mainland Britain by ministers and officials

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Executive: files on proposed ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth

12/10/06: request for documents in four files
12/10/06: request refused because it would exceed £600 cost limit
12/10/06: requested restricted
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Executive: meetings between Environment Minister Ross Finnie and NFU Scotland

19/09/06: request for minutes and correspondence relating to meetings
25/10/06: papers relating to one meeting withheld
25/10/06: internal review requested
18/11/06: papers still withheld
21/11/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commission
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Executive: proposed ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth

18/09/06: request for reports relating to proposed transfers
28/09/06: request refused because it would exceed £600 cost limit
28/09/06: refined request submitted
09/10/06: list of file names provided.

Scottish Executive: publication of bathing water pollution results

18/09/06: request for reports relating to bathing water results
17/10/06: some emails provided, other information withheld
18/10/06: internal review requested
17/11/06: information still withheld
21/11/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Executive: possible merger of Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage

08/09/06: request for documents relating to possible merger
21/09/06: no such documents, according to Executive
21/09/06: internal review requested
10/10/06: no relevant information, Executive says.

Scottish Executive: media team discussions with Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage

30/08/06: request for documents relating to discussions
21/11/06: reminder sent
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Executive: database on infractions of European Union directives

26/05/06: request for database
11/07/06: database refused
18/07/06: request internal review
16/08/06: database withheld again
22/08/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: documents relating to the UK energy review

17/05/06: request documents
15/06/06: documents refused
15/06/06: request internal review
12/07/06: documents again refused
18/07/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: information on Forth road bridge user charges

17/05/06: information requested
21/11/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner on failure to respond
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Executive: correspondence with Westminster on nuclear power

21/04/06: request correspondence
08/05/06: correspondence refused
10/05/06: request for internal review
07/06/06: correspondence again refused
07/06/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: documents relating to environmental justice strategy

09/12/05: documents requested
22/12/05: report refused
15/02/06: internal review requested
02/03/06: report again withheld
02/03/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: file on terrorist threat

06/12/05: file requested
19/04/06: some documents released, others withheld
21/04/06: internal review requested
11/05/06: documents still withheld
06/06/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: file on radionuclides in drinking water

06/12/05: file requested
05/04/06: majority of information refused
06/04/06: request for internal review
28/04/06: information still withheld
13/05/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: file on civil contingencies committee

06/12/05: file requested
24/04/06: some documents released, others withheld
10/05/06: internal review requested
02/06/06: documents still withheld
06/06/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: file on European Union infraction cases

06/12/05: requested file
02/05/06: some documents provided, others withheld
10/05/06: internal review requested
24/05/06: more documents provided

Scottish Executive: file on Article 37 infractions

06/12/05: file requested
03/05/06: some documents provided, others withheld
10/05/06: internal review requested
00/06/06 (exact date not given): more documents provided

Scottish Executive: file on decontamination of environment after accident

06/12/05: requested file
12/05/06: some documents provided, others withheld
15/05/06: internal review requested
09/6/06: documents still withheld

Scottish Executive: file on decontamination of people

06/12/05: requested file
27/04/06: some documents provided, others withheld
10/05/06: internal review requested
00/06/06 (exact date not given): one more document provided, others still withheld

Scottish Executive: files on Nirex, the nuclear waste agency

14/10/05: seven files requested
March-June 06: some documents from files released, others withheld
March-June 06: internal reviews requested
March-June 06: documents from six files still withheld
12 /06/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: reports on Glasgow cryptosporidium incident

19/09/05: reports requested
27/10/05: some reports provided

Scottish Executive: advice to ministers on reintroduction of the beaver

02/09/05: information requested
20/10/05: information refused
24/10/05: internal review requested
24/11/05: one annex released, most information still withheld
07/12/05: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: licences to control four protected species

09/06/05: licences requested
07/07/05: licences provided (story here)

Scottish Executive: information on radioactive waste

30/05/05: information requested
01/07/05: information released

Scottish Executive: information on company secondments

18/05/05: information requested
02/06/05: information provided

Scottish Executive: plans for nuclear waste disposal

18/05/05: request for information for specified files
16/06/05: request refused
20/06/05: internal review requested
15/07/05: files again refused
28/07/05: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
15/08/06: decision by Scottish Information Commissioner that Executive failed to comply with Freedom of Information Act (story here)

Scottish Executive: information about Torness

17/05/05: information requested
23/06/05: information not available

Scottish Executive: files on nuclear emergency exercises

05/05/05: six files requested
16/08/05: some documents provided, others withheld (story here)
19/08/05: internal review requested
16/09/05: ten documents still withheld
21/09/05: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
10/11/06: One document released
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: information on EU agricultural subsidies

28/04/05: information requested
05/05/05: information supplied

Scottish Executive: applications for licences to control protected species

05/04/05: applications requested
03/05/05: applications refused
04/05/05: internal review requested
02/06/05: some information released (story here)

Scottish Executive: information considered by ministers on M74 extension

25/03/05: information requested
26/04/05: information refused
27/04/05: internal review requested
06/06/05: information refused again
07/06/05: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: farmers in receipt of agricultural subsidies

09/03/05: requested subsidies for top 100 farmers
07/04/05: information refused
08/04/05: requested internal review
06/05/05: information still withheld
10/05/05: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
08/03/06: Commissioner asks Executive to reconsider its refusal
Now: awaiting decision

Scottish Executive: infractions of European Union directives

18/01/05: request for list and substance of infraction cases
23/02/05: list provided, but information on substance of cases refused (story here)
24/02/05: request for internal review
24/03/05: information again refused
24/03/05: new request for responses to infraction proceedings
29/03/05: appeal to Scottish Information Commissioner on substance of cases
22/04/05: responses to cases refused
22/04/05: requested internal review
18/05/05: responses to cases again refused
18/05/05: second appeal to Scottish Information Commissioner
25/10/05: decision by Scottish Information Commissioner requesting Executive to consider releasing draft responses
23/12/05: draft responses refused
04/01/06: internal review requested
24/03/06: one draft response released, others withheld
27/03/06: third appeal to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Ministry of Defence: reports by Nuclear Weapon Regulator

03/10/06: requested reports
16/10/06: request refused as it would exceed £600 cost limit

Ministry of Defence: list of reports by Nuclear Weapon Regulator

03/10/06: requested list
16/10/06: request refused as it would exceed £600 cost limit
17/10/06: request restricted to last year
17/11/06: list provided

Ministry of Defence: reports by Naval Nuclear Regulatory Panel

03/10/06: requested reports
16/10/06: request refused as it would exceed £600 cost limit

Ministry of Defence: list of reports by Naval Nuclear Regulatory Panel

03/10/06: requested list
16/10/06: request refused as it would exceed £600 cost limit
17/10/06: request restricted to last year
17/11/06: list provided

Ministry of Defence: report on safety events at Clyde nuclear submarine base

06/09/06: request for report on safety events
04/10/06: report released (story here)

Ministry of Defence: two reports on safety of nuclear weapon convoys

07/07/06: requested reports
18/07/06: notification that public interest test could take "some time"
15/09/06: reports refused
18/09/06: internal review requested
10/11/06: reports again refused

Ministry of Defence: Criminal Improved Nuclear Device Emergency Response

17/03/06: information requested
11/04/06: some documents released (story here)
10/05/06: internal review requested
04/08/06: some documents still withheld

Ministry of Defence: reports of Krakatau subcritical nuclear test

23/02/06: reports requested
27/03/06: request limited to list of Krakatau files
08/06/06: some files names provided

Ministry of Defence: names of nuclear safety and security files

31/01/06: file names requested
02/02/06: request limited to names of files on site safety and Trident submarines
12/02/06: request further limited to names of files on Trident
23/02/06: request further limited to names of files on Trident safety
31/03/06: some file names provided
21/06/06: more file names provided

Ministry of Defence: reports on Exercise Dimming Sun

12/01/06: reports requested
22/05/06: two reports withheld
22/05/06: internal review requested
27/07/06: reports still withheld

Ministry of Defence: Exercise Senator

27/10/05: request for assessments of Exercise Senator 2005
11/07/06: MoD refuses to release assessment by Nuclear Weapon Regulator
17/07/06: request internal review
12/09/06: MoD maintains refusal
12/09/06: appeal to Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting decision

Ministry of Defence: safety incidents at Clyde nuclear submarine base

10/10/05: request for documents on safety incidents
29/08/06: Five out of six documents released (story here)
04/09/06: Requested internal review of one document withheld
10/11/06: Document still withheld, though MoD criticised (story here)

Ministry of Defence: reports of lessons learnt from past Senator emergency exercises

15/09/05: reports requested
12/10/05: reports released (story here)

Ministry of Defence: safety reports on Aldermaston and Greenham Common

14/09/05: requested reports
9-24/10/05: two reports received, with key portions blacked out
14/10/05: requested internal review on one report
15/03/06: request referred by MoD to US defence officials
21/08/06: MoD says no reply yet received from US officials
Now: awaiting response

Ministry of Defence: report on safety of nuclear weapons transport

12/07/05: report requested
16/06/06: executive summary of report released (story here)

Ministry of Defence: list of nuclear waste sites proposed by Nirex in 1990s

04/01/05: list requested
10/06/05: list released by Nirex

UK Atomic Energy Authority: Dounreay files

01/03/06: request for files
31/03/06: some files released, majority withheld
04/04/06: request for internal review
07/04/06: files again withheld
12/04/06: appeal to Information Commissioner
29/08/06: appeal acknowledged with apology for delay
Now: awaiting decision

British Nuclear Group: files on Chapelcross

23/08/06: request for seven files
30/09/06: files released, with some information withheld
02/10/06: internal review requested
11/10/06: more documents released
04/11/06: extra phrases in some documents released (story here)

British Nuclear Group: documents relating to the funding of Nuklear21 trade union group

07/03/06: documents requested
04/04/06: request refused
05/05/06: internal review requested
09/08/06: documents on Nuklear21 expenses claims released (story here)

British Nuclear Group: names of nuclear safety and security files

31/01/06: request for file names
28/02/06: names of files on Chapelcross released

British Nuclear Group: safety reports and minutes relating to Sellafield

03/10/05: documents requested
09/12/05: document provided

British Nuclear Group: two reports on Sellafield Mox plant

01/04/05: reports requested
04/04/05: reports refused
04/04/05: internal review requested
06/03/06: appeal to Information Commissioner about delay
13/03/06: appeal rejected
06/04/06: initial response withholding one report again
13/04/06: final response withholding second report again
10/05/06: appealed to Information Commissioner
10/10/06: appeal acknowledged
Now: awaiting decision

Health and Safety Executive: 12 nuclear site files requested

03/10/05: files requested
10/10/05: £2,500 fee suggested
10/10/05: files requested limited to seven
03/11/05: files on Torness and Hunterston released (story here)
01/02/06: more files released
14/02/06: more files released
28/02/06: for military site files, referred to Ministry of Defence

Health and Safety Executive: information on pipe fracture at Sellafield THORP

18/05/05: information requested
11/07/05: some information released

Health and Safety Executive: names of files on six nuclear sites

17/05/05: file names requested
11/07/05: list of files released

Health and Safety Executive: documents on closure of British Energy Peel Park headquarters

23/03/05: documents requested
11/05/05: documents released (story here)

Health and Safety Executive: correspondence on reactor graphite cracking

10/02/05: correspondence requested
12/03/05: documents released (story here)

Health and Safety Executive: documents relating to the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee

11/01/05: documents requested
08/02/05: documents released (story here)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency: flights within mainland Britain by staff and board members

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Environment Protection Agency: publication of bathing water pollution results

18/09/06: request for reports relating to bathing water results
17/10/06: some emails released, but others withheld
17/10/06: internal review requested
15/11/06: remaining emails released

Scottish Environment Protection Agency: media team meetings with Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage

30/08/06: request for documents relating to meetings
29/09/06: some information released (story here), some withheld
29/09/06: internal review requested
26/10/06: documents still withheld
26/10/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Environment Protection Agency: pollution database

28/09/05: requested database
28/09/05: database provided (story here)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency: list of files on six nuclear sites

17/05/05: file lists requested
14/06/05: files lists provided

Scottish Environment Protection Agency: five Dounreay files

25/03/05: five files requested
26/04/05: files released

Scottish Environment Protection Agency: list of Dounreay files

18/03/05: list requested
22/03/05: list provided (story here)

Scottish Natural Heritage: flights within Britain by staff and board members

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Natural Heritage: media team meetings with Scottish Executive and Scottish Environment Protection Agency

30/08/06: request for documents relating to meetings
30/09/06: some documents released, others withheld
02/10/06: internal review requested
27/10/06: documents still withheld
31/10/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Natural Heritage: response to rejection of beaver reintroduction

29/11/05: response requested
23/12/05: response received

Scottish Natural Heritage: licences to control protected species

05/04/05: licences requested
19/05/05: list of licences provided with names withheld
01/06/05: internal review requested
04/07/05: names still withheld

Scottish Natural Heritage: list of sites damaged by deer

18/03/05: list requested
19/04/05: explained that list didn't exist

Scottish Natural Heritage: advice on reintroduction of the beaver

24/02/05: documents requested
24/03/05: documents released

Food Standards Agency: contract of Dr George Paterson

09/03/05: information requested
08/04/05: information refused

Food Standards Agency: documents on funding and staffing

09/03/05: documents requested
09/04/05: some documents provided

Food Standards Agency: documents on Hazards Analysis Critical Control Point

09/03/05: documents requested
09/04/05: documents provided (story here)

Department of Trade and Industry: list of nuclear safety and security files

31/01/06: file lists requested
Now: awaiting response

Department of Trade and Industry: documents about nuclear plants

12/01/06: documents requested
13/02/06: information provided

UK Nirex: list of sites proposed for nuclear waste disposal in 1990s

04/01/05: list requested
01/03/05: list refused
01/03/05: internal review requested
28/04/05: list again refused
01/05/05: appeal to Information Commissioner
26/05/05: Nirex workshop on release of site list
10/06/05: site list released (stories here and here)
03/08/05: launch of investigation by Information Commissioner
16/08/05: appeal withdrawn

National Trust for Scotland: financial reports

23/02/06: requested financial reports
24/02/06: reports refused
24/02/06: requested internal review
07/08/06: reports refused
15/08/06: appealed to Scottish Information Commissioner on whether Environmental Information Regulations apply
05/09/06: SIC requested additional information
08/09/06: appeal withdrawn

Greater Glasgow NHS Board: reports on Glasgow cryptosporidium incident

28/09/05: reports requested
24/10/05: reports received

Glasgow City Council: reports on Glasgow cryptosporidium incident

28/09/05: reports requested
12/10/05: reports received

Scottish Water: flights within Britain by staff and board members

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Water: reports on Glasgow cryptosporidium incident
28/09/05: reports requested
25/10/05: invitation to read documents in office, plus photo of them

Scottish Parliament: flights within Britain by MSPs

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Scottish Enterprise: flights within Britain by staff and board members

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Sustainable Development Commission: flights within Britain by staff and commissioners

25/10/06: request for summary information
31/10/06: information provided

Transport Scotland: flights within Britain by staff

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Communities Scotland: flights within Britain by staff

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Visit Scotland: flights within Britain by staff and board members

25/10/06: request for summary information
15/11/06: information not provided
15/11/06: internal review requested
Now: awaiting response

Historic Scotland: flights within Britain by staff

25/10/06: request for summary information
06/11/06: information not provided
07/11/06: internal review requested
21/11/06: information provided

Scottish Arts Council: flights within Britain by staff and council members

25/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Health Scotland: flights within Britain by staff and board members

25/10/06: request for summary information
21/11/06: information provided

Audit Scotland: flights within Britain by staff and commission members

31/10/06: request for summary information
13/10/06: information provided

Highlands and Islands Enterprise: flights within Britain by staff and board members

31/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Cairngorms National Park Authority: flights within Britain by staff and board members

31/10/06: request for summary information
13/11/06: information provided

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority: flights within Britain by staff and board members

31/10/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Forestry Commission Scotland: flights within Britain by staff, commissioners and national committee members

06/11/06: request for summary information
Now: awaiting response

Forth Estuary Transport Authority: documents relating to case for new Forth crossing

21/11/06: request for documents
Now: awaiting response