Www.centrefoi.org.uk Proactive publication seminar Proactive publishing: a way to manage information...
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Transcript of Www.centrefoi.org.uk Proactive publication seminar Proactive publishing: a way to manage information...
www.centrefoi.org.uk
Proactive publication seminar
Proactive publishing: a way to manage information requests? -Claire Turnbull, Scottish Parliament
Proactive publication: some examples – Sarah Hutchison, Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
FOI Practitioners’ Conference, 27 June 2013
Proactive publishing – a way to Proactive publishing – a way to manage information requests? manage information requests?
Proactive publication and FOIProactive publication and FOI
We now publish even more information than before Replied to hundreds of individual FOI requests Looking for trends FOI processes and training Learned things along the way
Proactive publishing examples and Proactive publishing examples and backgroundbackground
Quarterly MSP expenses Management plans and SPCB papers Supplier contracts database Management plans/ papers/reports/minutes MSP biographies/downloadable photos Quarterly catering budgets
Reasons for proactive publishing Reasons for proactive publishing
We want you to know what we do High profile/reputation Public purse/ cost & efficiency Statutory reasons Cultural reasons Feedback Technical ease
Publishing RisksPublishing Risks
Vast amount of information Preferred formats Access New requirements/developments Updating
Publishing RisksPublishing Risks
Personal data Commercially sensitive information Copyright requirements – ours to publish? Of broad or personal interest? Could prompt more questions Consistency League tables
Benefits of proactive publishingBenefits of proactive publishing
Expectations/reputation Underpins what we do Economic Context is provided in our replies Can publish in own time No 20 day deadline An additional resource for requesters Could be published (whatdotheyknow)
Benefits of proactive publishingBenefits of proactive publishing
Efficient/small team Fewer individual requests/replies More positive input for us Answering questions before they are asked It’s about transparency
Lessons Learned…..Lessons Learned…..
Publish at the beginning……not at the end FOI requests can identify trends Publishing can reduce requests Third parties may publish Timing and sensitivities Managing expectations Digital environment
Next steps and open dataNext steps and open data
Digital environment - open data and datasets Mobile formats Open data working group
Any questions?Any questions?
On risks?
On benefits?
On lessons learned?
Disclosure LogDisclosure Log
Developed and running for several years Linked to database Contains many replies spanning wide range Organised by reference number and date Can be searched Second version more user friendly Feedback
Disclosure LogDisclosure Log
Located near publication scheme on website Additional internal/external resource Higher quality of replies? Must be consistent Previous examples to inform new replies
Disclosure Log ConsiderationsDisclosure Log Considerations
Where and how to publish What information to publish Costs and technical requirements Extracts or whole reply? All replies or only some? Might encourage more requests League tables Staff time to add details and publish Risks of errors
Disclosure Log ConsiderationsDisclosure Log Considerations
Keeping data up to date Additional work When to archive Responses out of date Personal data Copyright, ours to publish?
Disclosure Log ConsiderationsDisclosure Log Considerations
We determine when to publish Within 24 hours of answering Shows transparency Shows consistency An additional resource for requesters Internal resource Replies could be published anyway
Disclosure Log ConsiderationsDisclosure Log Considerations
It’s not a secret its published! Can answer all or part of new requests Can reduce time answering new requests Quality of responses
Disclosure Log ConsiderationsDisclosure Log Considerations
Technical requirements Additional processes Keep adding information regularly Must be kept up to date Hyperlinks must work Consistency Personal data removed
Proactive publication – some examples
Case study 1 – Menie Estate
How many applications to the Commissioner?
Case study 2 – Release of the Lockerbie bomber
How many applications to the Commissioner?
Case study 3 – Edinburgh property repairs
How many applications to the Commissioner?
How many requests to the Council?