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I posed this question as a result of correspondence on the UCISA-DIRECTORS List. However, if no-one complains to the IC about not receiving any information from requests posed to mailing lists, then the IC is not going to investigate, or so we might hope!! Mike Lloyd Question: FAO: FoI Compliance Unit I would like advice as to whether a request for information received via an electronic mailing list, which is distributed to list members who are employed by public authorities, is to be interpreted as a request for information under Section 1(1) FoIA. Does is make any difference if the mailing list is open to all or just restricted to members who are employees of a specific sector of public authorities, e.g Higher and Further Education? Answer: ------ Forwarded Message From: "Alexander Ganotis" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 12:05:37 +0100 To: <[log in to unmask]> Subject: RE: Interpretation of Section 1(1) FOIA and mailing lists Mr Lloyd Thank you for your email of 17 March to the Information Commissioner's Office. We apologise for the delay in getting back to you. A request for information received via an electronic mailing list should be interpreted as a request for information under Section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act. As long as the request is in writing, states the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence (email addresses are sufficient) and describes the information requested, the means by which the request is received is insignificant. Furthermore, it would not make any difference whether the mailing list is open to all or just members who are employed in a specific sector of public authorities. This is because everyone has an equal right of access under the Act. I hope this will be of use. If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Alex Ganotis Policy Manager - FOI Procedural Policy Team 01625 545316 ____________________________________________________________________ If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail (and any attachment), please inform the sender by return e-mail and destroy all copies. Unauthorised access, use, disclosure, storage or copying is not permitted. Communication by Internet e-mail is not secure as messages can be intercepted and read by someone else. Therefore we strongly advise you not to e-mail any information which if disclosed to unrelated third parties would be likely to cause you distress. If you have an enquiry of this nature please provide a postal address to allow us to communicate with you in a more secure way. If you want us to respond by e-mail you must realise that there can be no guarantee of privacy. Any e-mail including its content may be monitored and used by the Information Commissioner’s Office for reasons of security and for monitoring internal compliance with the office policy on staff use. This includes the content of e-mails. E-mail monitoring / blocking software may also be used. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any e-mail you write or forward is within the bounds of the law. The Information Commissioner’s office cannot guarantee that this message or any attachment is virus free or has not been intercepted and amended and you should perform your own virus checks. ____________________________________________________________________ http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk <http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/> or e-mail: [log in to unmask] Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF Tel: 01625 545 700 Fax: 01625 524 510 ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________ ------ End of Forwarded Message