Freedom of Information statistics January to March 2006
The fifth quarterly report providing statistics on implementation of the Act across central
government covers January to March 2006. It was published on 28 June 2006.
Executive summary
- Departments of State reported receiving just over 4,900 “non-routine” information
requests during the first quarter of 2006 (Q1). Other monitored bodies received just under 4,500 requests.
Across all monitored bodies, nearly 9,400 requests were received, of which 88 per cent had been processed
at the time of monitoring. Data were also collected for the first time on requests under the Environmental
Information Regulations (EIRs); there were 221 such requests this quarter.
- The total of 9,400 requests across all monitored bodies received in the first quarter of 2006
(“Q1”) compares to 13,600 received during the first quarter of 2005 (when the Act first came
into operation) and a broad average of around 8,000 requests received for each remaining quarter of 2005.
- During Q1 of 2006, 90 per cent of all monitored bodies' requests
(excluding those “on hold” or lapsed) were “in time”, in that they were processed
within the statutory deadline or were subject to a permitted deadline extension. This figure is similar to
the levels reported in the previous three quarters.
- Of all “resolvable” requests received during Q1 of 2006 (i.e. requests where it
was possible to make a substantive decision on whether to release the information being sought),
68 per cent were granted in full, one percentage point more than in Q3 and Q4 of 2005. Of the remaining
Q1 requests, 10 per cent of the total were withheld in part, 14 per cent were withheld in full, and the
remaining 8 per cent had not yet received a substantive response.
- In the first quarter of 2006, monitored bodies had a cumulative total of 312 requests referred for
Internal Review on the grounds that information was withheld. Of the 157 Internal Reviews with a known outcome
at the time of monitoring, 82 per cent resulted in the request's initial handling being upheld in full.
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