The first major conference to take place in the UK after the coming into force of Freedom of Information law, the First Annual Freedom of Information Conference and Workshop Series is a must-attend event for all those involved with FOI.

FOI experts will give their view on a variety of issues that are set to dramatically affect public authorities under the new legal regime.

:: Reserve a place at the Freedom of Information Conference and Workshop Series

Freedom of Information Annual Workshop Series
On the second day of the conference, delegates will have the opportunity to attend Workshops on important aspects of FOI practice.  The aim of the FOI Workshops is to provide delegates with an opportunity to examine a practical scenario with respect to a particular area of FOI compliance. 

Topics for FOI Workshops 2005, Wednesday 9th February 2005:

Practical issues of compliance
Claire Walsh - Office of the Information Commissioner

Building the records management system - audits and file plans
Kelvin Smith - National Archives

Bearing it all - The challenges for the private sector
Eduardo Ustaran - Field Fisher Waterhouse

Applying the exemptions
Dijen Basu - Barrister - Devereux Chambers

:: Click for further details on the FOI Workshops

FOI Conference Speakers and Topics

:: Freedom of Information – The Commissioner's view
Graham Smith – Deputy Information Commissioner
The Office of the Information Commissioner must enforce Freedom of Information law.  Public authorities are likely to need to deal with the Commissioner's Office on a regular basis.  Graham Smith will talk about the Commissioner's perspective on FOI and will give an overview of the complaints handling process.

:: The implications of FOI for the private sector
Patricia Barratt – Clifford Chance
The new regime brings many changes for the private sector as well as the public sector. This presentation looks at what private sector companies should be doing to maximise the benefits of the Act and minimise its risks, and examines what the effects may be on interaction between the private and public sectors.

:: The role of the media in making access requests
Keith Mathieson – Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
Public authorities will receive significant numbers of access requests from the media in the first few months of operation of FOI law.  Keith Mathieson will look at the media's attitude to access requests and will suggest methods for public authorities to deal effectively with the media.

:: Journalists' perspective on FOI requests
David Hencke – The Guardian
David Hencke will give an insight into the thinking of journalists regarding FOI access requests and will outline the issues surrounding some of the high-profile access requests that have been made to date.

:: The relationship between Freedom of Information and Data Protection
Jeremy White – Head of Access to Information – The Welsh Assembly
There is much confusion surrounding the overlap of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.  The FOIA attempts to maintain the distinction between individual privacy and the public right to access in several important ways.  It is essential that public authorities understand this distinction when dealing with information requests.

:: Are your records ready for FOI?
Kelvin Smith – National Archives
Good quality record keeping in public authorities is essential to meeting the requirement of FOI legislation. Records management underpins FOI - the legislation cannot be implemented if public authorities do not know what information they hold and where it is, and cannot retrieve it when requested to do so.  This talk will look at records management policies and procedures that will meet these challenges.

:: Similar but different – the Scottish experience
David Mallon – ITI Scotland Limited
The Freedom of Information ( Scotland ) Act 2002 has great similarities to its UK counterpart.  However, there are important differences the effect of which is to make it more difficult for a Scottish public authority to withhold information pursuant to an Information Request than it is for a UK public body.  This added measure of transparency presents both risk and opportunity to clients and advisers alike, and knowledge of the different landscape north of the border is an essential part of the business toolkit.  In this talk, David Mallon will outline the main differences between the Scottish and UK Act and provide some insight into the practical impact of these as evidenced in the early months of new regime.

:: Enforcement
Dijen Basu – Barrister - Devereux Chambers
What happens when the Act is not complied with?  Dijen Basu will speak about the Freedom of Information Act enforcement regime, including the powers of the Information Commissioner to issue Decision, Information and Enforcement Notices and the powers and procedure of the Information Tribunals.
 

Conference Chairman:  Marcus Turle of Field Fisher Waterhouse

Marcus is a senior solicitor with Field Fisher Waterhouse.  He has specialised in privacy and information law since 1998 and advises clients in both the public and private sectors on all aspects of data protection, freedom of information, confidentiality and human rights.

:: Click to view Chairman and Speakers' biographies

Reserve Your Place

To secure your place at the The First Annual FOI Conference and/or FOI Workshop Series, please register via:

:: Submit your details via our online application form

:: Download PDF file: conference flier and application form

:: Telephone the Conference Line on: +44 0845-226 5723

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