***** THIS EMAIL WAS SENT VIA THE INTERNET *****

Having discussed this issue with some of my colleagues I think it can only complicate any DP requests by providing one set of information under DP and the other under FOI. If they are to receive the information under FOI (unstructured) anyway Durant in a way surely does not apply. The only issue I would have would be to ensure that all information was provided in time. It just muddies the water slightly but hey, I am sure we can cope. I think some of us will get more requests than others and perhaps we will get none!!!!!!
Dor
Doreen Broom
Access to Information Officer
Scottish Borders Council
Tel: 01835 826516
Fax: 01835 825041


        -----Original Message-----
        From: Tim Turner [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
        Sent: 20 May 2004 09:14
        To: [log in to unmask]
        Subject: Re: UK's Data Protection Act Might Not Meet Eur opean Union Standa rds

        ***** THIS EMAIL WAS RECEIVED FROM THE INTERNET *****

        I think "obstructive" is a subjective word. I'd substitute another, equally
        subjective one: "practical". If we search in properly structured files for
        information which really concerns a person, and not for every passing
        reference to them, we can do an efficient trawl and deliver the results well
        within the 40 day deadline. Managing the expectations of a requester isn't
        necessarily "obstructive", any more than giving in to unreasonable requests
        is "open and responsive". Admittedly, FOI opens up more data to the
        applicant. However, unstructured data is available under FOI's charging
        arrangements and is subject to a description of the data being provided, so
        I see that as a separate search, rather than a component of subject access.

        The applicant who arrives with no more than £10 and a demand for
        "everything" shouldn't automatically be given "everything". To be reluctant
        to go along with that isn't being obstructive, it's being practical.

        Tim Turner
        Data Protection Officer
        Wigan Council

        > ----------
        > From: Edwina Withe[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
        > Reply To: Edwina Withe
        > Sent: 19 May 2004 14:38
        > To: [log in to unmask]
        > Subject: Re: [data-protection] UK's Data Protection Act Might Not
        > Meet European Union Standa rds
        >
        > Just because the Durant ruling is obstructive it doesnt impose any
        > obligation on you to be obstructive with regard to providing info.
        > Surely it would be better to be open and responsive when dealing with
        > SARs instead of withholding information just because you can?
        >
        > >>> Tim Trent <[log in to unmask]> 19/05/2004 13:42:12
        > >>>
        > If we follow that track, it was, I think, in the early or mid 1990s
        > that the
        > Metropolitan Police Commissioner said that "police could no longer
        > prevent
        > crime, they could only attend it."
        >
        > -----Original Message-----
        > From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
        > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hubert, Paul
        > [STU]
        > Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 12:03 PM
        > To: [log in to unmask]
        > Subject: Re: [data-protection] UK's Data Protection Act Might Not Meet
        > European Union Standa rds
        >
        > >Lack of enforcement means the law is bad law. It should either be
        > >repealed
        > or enforced.
        >
        > I think your view is too abstract, Tim. There are many areas of
        > society
        > where the enforcers of laws and statutory systems of regulation
        > exercise
        > discretion in a somewhat arbitrary way whether to pursue cases or not.
        > The
        > police don't pursue every burglary reported, and the HSE don't pursue
        > every
        > breach of health and safety. If every breach of any law led to a
        > prosecution
        > the whole of society would be constantly in and out of the courts one
        > way
        > and another. The problem is where there is so much discretion
        > arbitrarily
        > exercised that it becomes impossible for anyone to know where they
        > stand
        > because similar cases get treated in wildly different ways.
        >
        > Paul
        >
        > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        > All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
        > available to the world wide web community at large at
        > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
        > If you wish to leave this list please send the command
        > leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
        > All user commands can be found at : -
        > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
        > (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
        > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        >
        > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        > All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
        > available to the world wide web community at large at
        > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
        > If you wish to leave this list please send the command
        > leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
        > All user commands can be found at : -
        > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
        > (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
        > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        >
        >
        >
        > This e-mail may be read by employees of the Council and is therefore not
        > to be considered private by the recipient. The views expressed in this
        > e-mail are those of the individual and not necessarily the views or
        > opinions of Bracknell Forest Borough Council.
        >
        > This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
        > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are
        > addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
        > system manager. Email: [log in to unmask]
        >
        > This footnote also confirms that this e-mail has been swept by MailSweeper
        > for the presence of computer viruses. Although the Council has taken steps
        > to ensure that this e-mail and any attachments are virus free we advise
        > that in keeping with good ICT practice the recipients should confirm this
        > for themselves.
        >
        > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        > All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
        > available to the world wide web community at large at
        > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
        > If you wish to leave this list please send the command
        > leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
        > All user commands can be found at : -
        > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
        > (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
        > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        >


        **********************************************************************
        This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
        intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
        are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
        the system manager.

        This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
        MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses using Sophos
        anti-virus software.

        www.mimesweeper.com
        www.sophos.com
        **********************************************************************

        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
               All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
              available to the world wide web community at large at
              http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
              If you wish to leave this list please send the command
               leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
                    All user commands can be found at : -
                http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
          (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


********************************************************************
* This email is privileged, confidential and subject to copyright. *
* Any unauthorised use or disclosure of its content is prohibited. *
* The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily *
* be the views held by Scottish Borders Council. *
********************************************************************

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
       All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
      available to the world wide web community at large at
      http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
      If you wish to leave this list please send the command
       leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
            All user commands can be found at : -
        http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
  (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^




This e-mail and any files that accompany it are intended only for the
use of the addressee/s, and may contain information that is
privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure. If the reader is not
an intended recipient, any disclosure, distribution or other use of this
e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately. Any
views or opinions presented do not necessarily represent those of
the College.

Thank you.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
       All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
      available to the world wide web community at large at
      http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
      If you wish to leave this list please send the command
       leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
            All user commands can be found at : -
        http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
  (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^