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    University of Sussex was founded in the 1960s and is a leading teaching and research institution. 90 per cent of its research activity was rated as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised. The University says the Freedom of Information Act Does not work effectively.

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    Written Evidence From the University of Sussex

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    University of Sussex was founded in the 1960s and is a leading teaching and research institution. 90 per cent of its research activity was rated as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised. The University says the Freedom of Information Act Does not work effectively.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    33 views2 pages

    Written Evidence From The University of Sussex

    Uploaded by

    saveFOI
    University of Sussex was founded in the 1960s and is a leading teaching and research institution. 90 per cent of its research activity was rated as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised. The University says the Freedom of Information Act Does not work effectively.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    FOI 61

    WrittenevidencefromtheUniversityofSussex Aboutus TheUniversityofSussexwasthefirstofthenewwaveofUKuniversitiesfoundedinthe1960s, receivingitsRoyalCharterinAugust1961.Aswecelebrateour50thanniversary,theUniversityhas becomealeadingteachingandresearchinstitution.TheUniversityhasover10,000students,of whichalmost3,000arepostgraduates.Creativethinking,pedagogicdiversity,intellectualchallenge andinterdisciplinarityhavealwaysbeenfundamentaltoaSussexeducation.Sussexisalsoaleading researchuniversity,asreflectedinthe2008ResearchAssessmentExercise.Over90percentof Sussexresearchactivitywasratedasworldleading,internationallyexcellentorinternationally recognised,confirmingtheUniversityamongtheleading30researchuniversitiesintheUK,ona simpleaverageacrossallscores. Writtenevidenceontheissues PleasefindbelowtheUniversitysresponses: 1. DoestheFreedomofInformationActworkeffectively? Itiseffectivetothelimitedextentthatitisusedforencouragingtransparencyinpubliclyfunded organisations(e.g.howmuchisspentonexpensesorhospitalitybystaff),butonthewholeitis notusedforthesepurposes. 2. WhatarethestrengthsandweaknessesoftheFreedomofInformationAct? Strengths i. Itencouragesaccountabilityinspendingofpublicfunds. ii. Itencouragesorganisationstomakemoreinformationavailabletothepublicvia publicationsschemes. Weaknesses i. Itismostlyusedbyjournalists/students/otherswantinganeconomicandexpedientwayto undertakeresearch. ii. Astheenquirerisundernoobligationtoexplaintheirenquiry,ortoprovideapublicbenefit justificationtheActisroutinelyused(particularlybyjournalists)tofishforinformation aroundaparticulartopic,seekinganythingofinterestwillemerge.Worse,itcanbe deliberatelyusedfortimewastingormischievousquestions. iii. Itisfrequentlyusedbypotentialcommercialsuppliersenquiringaboutcompetingcontracts. iv. TheActitself,althoughapparentlystraightforwardincomparisonwithotherlegislationsuch astheDataProtectionAct,isstillcomplexanddifficulttonavigate,andrequiressignificant investmentinstafftrainingbyorganisationsthataresubjecttoit. 3. IstheFreedomofInformationActoperatinginthewaythatitwasintendedto? No.Ittakesupaninordinateamountofstafftimeforverylittlepublicbenefit.Thenumberof requestsisincreasingrapidly.TheUniversitycurrentlyreceivestwotothreeenquiriesperweek whicheachtakearoundtwohoursofadministration,andacurrentlyunquantifiedamountof timeforcompilationofexpertresponses.Overthelastsixmonthsaround4%ofenquiries receivedconcernedpublicfundingaccountability,whilst13%werecommercialenquiriesand theremainderwerethepreviouslyreferredtoresearchenquiries. Recommendationsforthecommitteetoconsiderincludinginitsreport Thecommitteeshouldreviewtheamountoftimeandresourceinvestedbypublicsector organisationsinrespondingtoFOIAenquiriestogaugethelevelofrealpublicbenefittheAct

    FOI 61
    delivers.Inparticular,wesuggestthattheFOIAenquirershouldberequiredtopresentaspecific publicinterestrationaleforeachrequest,whichthereceivingbodyshouldbeabletochallengeand seekadjudicationon. February2012

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