I would hazard the opinion that this is the sort of enquiry we will be getting (in spades!) when the FoI Act is fully in force. It strikes me as being 'an FoI' question, so could you not respond along the following lines.
If you know that the information is already published openly, then indicate to the journalist which publication it will be in, where they can obtain that from and whether or not there would be a charge in supplying the information/publication - as you would do (already do?) in the FoI Publication Scheme for your organisation.
If it is not already openly published then, until full FoI implementation, there isn't (?) an obligation on you to supply. If the request were to be made after full implementation would you supply or would you claim an exemption (bearing in mind that that might be one of the exemptions that would have to be given 'the public interest test' anyway - which might apply in this case)?
Does this make sense? (Probably not!!)
regards,
Malcolm
----------------------
Malcolm Kendall
Legislation Manager
Information Services
The University of Birmingham
Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Tel: +44 121 414 4749
Fax: +44 121 471 4691
email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Broom, Doreen
Sent: 18 December 2003 15:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Ex-HeadTeacher Query
***** THIS EMAIL WAS SENT VIA THE INTERNET *****
This is a journalistic one today...........
Press want us to confirm that an Ex-HeadTeacher taught at a specific school
on certain dates. We don't know the nature of the report as the journalist
refused to reveal this information which makes me think that it may be a
defamatory report.
Are we obliged to confirm that the teacher did work at the school on the
dates in question? ...I suppose that being a HeadTeacher, you would expect
that information to be in the public domain but as this was a considerable
number of years ago do we as a public authority have a duty to
disclose.........
Nearly holiday time...........
Doreen
Doreen Broom
Access to Information Officer
Scottish Borders Council
Tel: 01835 826516
Fax: 01835 825041
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