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A decade of Freedom of Information

09 January 2015
Issue: 7635 / Categories: Legal News
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Freedom of information (FOI) requests are rising steadily, with government bodies now receiving about 1,000 per week. 

More than 400,000 requests have been made since the legislation was introduced a decade ago, on 1 January 2005. 

Justice minister Simon Hughes hailed the legislation “a triumph for transparency”.

FOI revelations over the years include the number of public sector salaries higher than £150,000 and that East Midlands emergency services spent £50,000 dealing with hoax calls. Since its inception, the FOI has been considerably broadened in scope.

In this week’s NLJ, Tom Morrison, partner at Rollits, recalls how the Freedom of Information Act 2000 “marked a new era for the right of the public to know more about the decisions public authorities make in all our names”.

Issue: 7635 / Categories: Legal News
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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