Freedom of info and rights to report

Question 1

What does the cabinet in council meetings do?

Answer 1

 Makes major policy decisions

 Sometimes invites opposition leaders

Question 2

What do scrutiny committees do?

Answer 2

Backbench councillors who scrutinise decisions

Question 3

What do regulatory committees do?

Answer 3

Look at planning, licensing etc.

Question 4

Describe a full council

Answer 4

 Meeting of all councillors
 Chaired by ceremonial mayor or DEM
 Formally sets budget
 Acknowledges cabinet decisions- doesn’t have to approve them
 Can pass motions proposed by councillors
 Approve key decisions that affect two or more wards

Question 5

In terms of access to info, what do the press have the right to?

Answer 5

 Three days notice of meetings open to the press
 Agendas and minutes of council meetings- usually available on council website- e.g background papers and documents
 Planning applications
 Payments to councillors
 Constitution and code of conduct
 Statutory register of members; interests
 Copies of any reports into allegations of maladministration

Question 6

When can’t press and public attend council meetings?

Answer 6

When info is confidential or exempt

Question 7

What are the press and public entitled to if excluded from a meeting?

Answer 7

A summary of the decision taken after the meeting

Question 8

What does the FOI Act enable?

Answer 8

It enables individuals to request info from around 100,000 public bodies

Question 9

Name some of these public bodies

Answer 9

• Gov departments including home office, foreign office and PM’s Office
• H o C & L, the national assemblies of NI and Wales
• Armed forces
• Councils, police and fire service
• NHS, including doctors and dentists
• Unis, colleges and schools
• Regulatory bodies like Ofcom and General media Council

Question 10

Who isn’t subject to FOI?

Answer 10

Private companies

Question 10

Who isn’t subject to FOI?

Answer 10

Private companies

Question 11

What are public bodies required to produce?

Answer 11

Publication schemes

Question 11

What are public bodies required to produce?

Answer 11

Publication schemes

Question 12

How do you make an info request?

Answer 12

• Requests made in writing
• 20 working days to respond
• Can get extension to-
• To consult third party
• To consider public interest
• But must give advice and assistance

Question 13

What are the two reasons why requests can be refused?

Answer 13

• Qualified exemptions

- Absolute exemptions

Question 14

What is a qualified exemption?

Answer 14

• Intended for future publication
• National security
• Likely to prejudice international relations, the economy, or law enforcement functions
• Subject to public interest test

Question 15

What is an absolute exemption?

Answer 15

• Related to intelligence services
• Court records
• Parliamentary privilege
• Data protection
• Breach of confidence
• Disclosure prohibited by law
• No public interest test required

Question 16

How does the media influence opinion?

Answer 16

-Manufacturing Consent- Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman-
 The media reflects the interests of elites and marginalises dissent
 This is achieved through the operation of a series of filters through which news must pass