I doubt that this would wash, in Scotland at least. Under the Freedom
of Information (Scotland) Act Scottish Public Authorities have a duty
(section 15) to provide guidance and assistance to people making
requests. The code of practice which amplifies this duty states that
one of the ways in which this can be fulfilled is by "providing an
outline of different kinds of information which might meet the terms of
the request". If someone were to complain to the Scottish Information
Commissioner about being told that they couldn't have statistical
information because figures hadn't yet been finalised I think there's a
fair chance that the institution would be criticised for, for example,
not suggesting that interim information could be provided. And in any
case it's probably not going to be long before journalists start
producing better defined requests e.g. the latest set of interim
statistics at the time they were last prepared for senior management.
Yes if you don't have the information you can't provide it, but even
this may lead to one helpful articles saying that University of X
doesn't know its student numbers!
This e-mail has been prepared using voice recognition software.
I apologise if any transcription errors have not been picked up.
*******************************************************************
D B Nelson
Academic Registrar and Deputy Secretary
Academic Affairs, Planning and Secretariat
University of Edinburgh
Old College, South Bridge Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, Scotland
mail: [log in to unmask] (Not bruce.nelson or b.nelson)
voice: +131-650 2131 fax: +131-650 6521 http://www.aaps.ed.ac.uk/
*******************************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Tommy.Geddes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 October 2005 07:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sunday Times request for Overseas numbers
Don't think we need to quote an excemption. There is no requirement to
provide information we do not possess. If we don't yet have the data,
there is none to release. Just say no ............
Tommy Geddes
Pro Vice Chancellor
The University of Winchester
Tel: 01962 827201
Fax: 01962 879033
email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Academic, financial or space planning in UK universities
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of NELSON Bruce
Sent: 26 October 2005 19:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sunday Times request for Overseas numbers
Mike
Which exemption in the FOI(S) Act are you claiming and have you applied
the public interest test if applicable?
Bruce
This e-mail has been prepared using voice recognition software. I
apologise if any transcription errors have not been picked up.
*******************************************************************
D B Nelson
Academic Registrar and Deputy Secretary
Academic Affairs, Planning and Secretariat University of Edinburgh Old
College, South Bridge Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, Scotland
mail: [log in to unmask] (Not bruce.nelson or b.nelson)
voice: +44 131-650 2131 mobile +44 7725051035 fax: +44 131-650 6521
http://www.aaps.ed.ac.uk/
*******************************************************************
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Arthur [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 4:19 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Sunday Times request for Overseas numbers
>
> Dear All,
>
> We have just received a request from the Sunday Times for our overseas
> intake for this session. Have other institutions received a similar
> query?
> Is this information you are willing to release this early in the
> academic session? We have concerns about the completeness of this
> data at this relatively early stage in the registration/matriculation
> process and would prefer not to issue, however, if all other
> universities are returning the data.........
>
> Your views would be appreciated.
>
> Regards
>
> Mike
>
> ************************************************
> Michael Arthur
> Planning Office
> University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ Direct tel: (+44) 0141 330 4326
> Fax: (+44) 0141 330 4920
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/planning/
>
|