FOI Statistics released by the Financial Services Authority via a Freedom of Information request show that over 50% of requests for information made in the past year were rejected in part or in full.
In the period between 1 November 2006 and 31 October 2007, 217 requests were made to the FSA. Of those, 24 requests were answered in full (11%), 32 were answered in part (15%) and 110 requests (51%) were rejected in part or in full.
The independent non-governmental body also broke down the exemptions used most during that period. The most popular exemptions used were absolute exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act with the section 44 exemption prohibiting disclosure having been used 50 times.
The FSA Freedom of Information team seems to have been steadily developing a reputation for being “staggeringly pompous” and unhelpful:
http://www.citywire.co.uk/Blogs/Entry.aspx?VersionID=93441
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general/121310-fsa-letter-master-rolls.html
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/sitemap/t-109188.html
I hate to say it but my experience echoes these sentiments – it seems that the notion of public information may not yet have sunk in entirely. The few unfortunate times I have found myself seeking information from the FSA I have generally found it to be an uphill battle with the team delaying as much as possible – it’s no surprise to me that FOI is said to cost as much as it does if FOI officers waste so much time trying to prevent the release of material or avoid giving guidance to those who wish to make a request forcing the entire process to take double or triple the time it should and could.
The only explanations I can think of are:
1. That the FSA FOI team is understaffed and unable to cope with the volume hence they are trying to fob off as many requestors as possible
2. The team is deliberately trying to avoid releasing public information for some misguided reason or
3. That over 50% of all the requests for information made really couldn’t be answered positively or in full.
The complaints above make me suspect that explanation three may be being too optimistic sadly…
For those of you who download the full response you will notice that there are some discrepancies with the figures, as if you add up all of the FOI responses detailed the total comes to 170 FOIs meaning that the fate of 47 requests is yet to be clarified by the FSA.
