FOI statistics April to June 2007

The central government quarterly monitoring statistics for April-June 2007 have been published.

Executive Summary

Departments of State reported receiving 4,084 “non-routine” information requests during the second quarter of 2007 (Q2). Other monitored bodies received 3,904 requests. Across all monitored bodies, a total of 7,988 requests were received, of which 93 per cent had been processed at the time of monitoring. This includes 154 requests handled under the amended Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) which came into force on 1 January 2005. [see Table 1]

The 7,988 requests across all monitored bodies received in the second quarter of 2007 is just a dozen more than the 7,976 received during the corresponding quarter of 2006. [see Table A]

During Q2 of 2007, 91 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 the same as in both of the previous two quarters, but a little lower than in the corresponding quarter of 2006. [see Table 2 and Table B]

Of all “resolvable” requests received during Q2 of 2007 (i.e. requests where it was possible to make a substantive decision on whether to release the information being sought), 61 per cent were granted in full, a slightly smaller proportion than in the previous quarter. [see Table 3 and Table C].

Although the number of requests received by all monitored bodies was more or less the same as the corresponding period of 2006, the number of requests received by government departments actually fell by 5%.

Given the renewed emphasis that is being placed on vexatious requests, it would also be helpful if figures on the use of this provision could be included within Table 4 in future.

Read the full report.