:: 2007 FOI Conference website:  www.foiconference.co.uk

Archived information from....

2nd Annual Freedom of Information Conference & Workshop Series
Monday 6th February – Wednesday 8th February 2006, London, UK

Following the success of the first Annual FOI Conference, we are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Freedom of Information Conference & Workshop Series hosted at the Academy Conference Centre Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, London, UK.

Day 1 – Special Focus Seminars – Monday 6th February 2006

We are pleased to host two Special Focus Seminars focusing on other legislation that is closely related to the Freedom of Information Act.  Afternoon 2.00pm - 5.15pm.  3 CPD Points accredited.

Focus on Re-use of the Public Sector Information Regulations
Rosemary Jay – Pinsent Masons

This Focus Session is designed to support those who will be dealing with the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005.  The topics covered in this session include:

• what does re-use mean?

• formalities of making an application

• the relationship with FOI, EIR and other access rights

• when can the authority licence re-use and when can the user do so without permission under the IPR exemptions

• the relevant intellectual property rights - database rights, copyrights

• what are the limits of the IPR exemptions?

• when is material exempt from re-use?

• what are re-use licenses, what should they cover?

• charging regimes - trading funds and others

The session will include case studies and worked examples.  There will be ample opportunity for discussion, questions and debate.  Delegates are encouraged to bring queries to this interactive session.

The Interactive Seminar will help participants to:

• identify what each organisation needs to do to handle applications for re-use properly

• understand the interface with other access regimes

• review the options for licensing and appreciate why licenses should be used and how they work

• understand the complaints mechanism and how to deal with cases if things go wrong

• anticipate what types of information may be most useful and when requests can be refused

Biography:  Rosemary Jay is a Partner at Pinsent Masons.  She advises clients on privacy, data protection, human rights, access to information and related information law issues.  Prior to joining the firm, Rosemary worked in local government and at the Office of the Data Protection Registrar, where she headed the Legal Department for 12 years.  Rosemary is a Member of the Editorial Board of Freedom of Information Journal.

Focus on Environmental Information Regulations ( EIRs ) and FOI
What's the same, what's different, and does it matter?
Judith Cullen of Defra

This Focus Session will cover the hot topics in implementing the Environmental Information Regulations. The session will feature an interactive discussion and then delegates will have the opportunity to work through various practical and realistic scenarios with officials from Defra.

The variety of topics that will be covered include:

• the EIR definitions

• recognizing an EIR request

• what to do when the request is on the boundary

• exceptions under EIR

• the difference between EIR and FOI

• interactions with other legislation

• enforcement under EIR

Biography:  Judith Cullen is Head of the Environmental Information Unit at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Defra is the government department responsible for the Environmental Information Regulations and the unit provides advice and guidance on the regulations across the whole of the public sector.  Judith has held a variety of post within the public and private sector and has a background in scientific research and project management.

Day 2 – The FOI Conference – Tuesday 7th February Attend the 2nd Annual Freedom of Information Conference to gain invaluable insights into the practical issues that are occupying the attention of FOI professionals and information officers. Listen to experts in the FOI field talk about the issues that FOI professionals are dealing with on a daily basis. Network with fellow FOI Officers, Records Managers, Archivists, Information Managers and Lawyers from the public and private sectors.  The Conference is a must-attend event for all FOI professionals who are dealing with FOI issues either full-time or as part of their job. Once again, and by popular demand, Graham Smith, Deputy Information Commissioner, will be speaking at the 2nd Annual Freedom of Information Conference. Graham Smith is the lead at the Commissioner's Office on all FOI matters.

Graham Smith Deputy Information Commissioner

FOI Conference Topics and Speakers

:: Lessons learned from the ICO's first year of FOI Casework
Graham Smith  –  Deputy Information Commissioner
Graham Smith will discuss the key themes and issues which have arisen from handling FOI/EIR casework. He will highlight some key decisions, the benefits of informal resolution and explain how the ICO has responded to the challenges of handling cases.

:: FOI – a view from the trenches
Richard Smith  –  Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Government Departments, in common with other public authorities, have been grappling with hundreds - in some cases, thousands - of requests for information under the FOI legislation since it came into force. This talk will give a flavour of the range of requests received in one Whitehall Department, how they have been dealt with, and what it has been like for those at the sharp end.

:: Freedom of Information (the first 12 months and looking forward - year two)
Belinda Lewis - Department of Constitutional Affairs
Belinda Lewis will review the first year of the Freedom of Information Act from the point of view of the DCA and give valuable insight into what will be called for in the coming year.

:: Media perspective on public authorities – the good, the bad and the indifferent
David Hencke  –  The Guardian
David Hencke will give an insight into the successes and pitfalls of obtaining information from government and will reveal the lessons learned from some of the high-profile access requests that have been made to date.

:: Enforcement – the acid test
Jeremy Ison  –  Clifford Chance
The practical scope of the right to official information, and of the obligations on public authorities, is illuminated by the rulings of those charged with overseeing the FOI regime.  In this presentation Jeremy Ison will look at the approach to case handling adopted by the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal and will assess the lessons to be learned from their decisions to date.

:: Managing the public/private sector relationship
Hazel Moffat  –  Shepherd+ Wedderburn
An analysis of the changes which have been made by both the public and private sectors in their approach to commercial contracts, procurement and business information generally as a consequence of FOI and consideration of how recent decisions of the Information Commissioner will continue to impact on this relationship.

:: Environmental Information Regulations – what it means, what it covers and the relationship with Freedom of Information
Damien Welfare  –  2-3 Gray's Inn Square
An analysis of the new Environmental Information Regulations, looking at the broad scope of information covered, exceptions to disclosure and how those relate to the exemptions in the FOI Act, and experience to date including decisions of the Information Commissioner.

:: Selling the family silver (otherwise known as the re-use of public sector information)
Hazel Grant  –  Bird & Bird
This talk considers the new regulations, brought into force in July 2005, which govern the process for handling requests to re-use public sector information.  Hazel will review organisations' ability to refuse, charge and place conditions on re-use.  She will also look at best practice and guidance for public sector bodies on complying with these regulations.
 

:: View Chairman and Speakers' biographies and Conference topics

Day 3 - The FOI Workshops – Wednesday 8th February 2006

On the third day of the 2nd Annual Freedom of Information Conference & Workshop Series, delegates will have the opportunity to attend two of the 4 half-day Workshops on important aspects of FOI practice.  The aim of each FOI Workshop is to provide delegates with an opportunity to work through practical scenarios with respect to a particular area of FOI compliance.

These FOI Workshops can be booked separately or in conjunction with the 'Special Focus Seminars' and/or the Conference.  Attendance at the Workshops by Conference delegates is optional but it is anticipated that most Conference delegates will wish to attend one or more of the FOI Workshops.

Each FOI Workshop is accredited by the Law Society with 3 CPD Points.

Topics for FOI Workshops 2006:

:: Strategic Issues in Handling Complaints
Louise Townsend – Pinsent Masons
Morning Workshop:  9.30am - 12.45pm, 3-course networking lunch included.

Public authorities need to have an internal independent complaints handling process in place to deal with aggrieved applicants who have made requests for information and need to ensure that they can effectively deal with enquiries from the Information Commissioner.  The Workshop will look at:

• internal procedures for handling requests

• internal complaints handling processes

• handling complaints that have been referred to the Information Commissioner

• handling appeals

The Workshop will involve the use of a case study which follows the complaints process through its various stages and will look at relevant decision notices from the Information Commissioner.

:: Applying the Exemptions I
Hazel Grant – Bird & Bird
Morning Workshop:  9.30am - 12.45pm, 3-course networking lunch included.

This Workshop will consider the application of the following exemptions using practical scenarios and class discussion:

• confidentiality (s. 41)

• commercial use (s. 43)

• legal privilege exemptions (s. 42)

:: Applying the Exemptions II
Usha Jagessar and Julia Apostle – DLA Piper
Afternoon Workshop:  2.00pm - 5.15pm, 3-course networking lunch included.

This Workshop will consider the application of the following exemptions using practical scenarios and class discussion:

• personal information (s. 40)

• health and safety (s. 38)

• future publication (including some information on the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations) (s. 22)

• prejudice to law enforcement (s. 31)

• court records (s. 32)

• prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs (s. 36)

• investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities (s. 30)

:: FOI in the practical context of other legislation
David Allen Green – Taylor Wessing
Afternoon Workshop:  2.00pm - 5.15pm, 3-course networking lunch included.

FOI does not exist in a vacuum.  Instead it fits into a framework of other legislation, policy goals, and internal processes and decision-making.  David will lead a Workshop looking at how FOI fits in with various other statutory regimes from the Data Protection Act, through the Public Procurement Regulations, to the Environmental Information Regulations.  He will also work with delegates to explore how a full grasp of the policies and procedures of the public bodies will ensure that requests for information are dealt with appropriately and efficiently.

:: Click to view Workshop Leader's biographies

Conference Venue, Location and Travel Directions

Miscellaneous Information

Seminar, Conference & Workshop Booking

To book your place at the 2nd Annual Freedom of Information Conference & Workshop Series:

:: Submit your details via our online booking form

:: Download PDF Conference flier and booking form

:: Telephone the Conference Booking Line on: +44 (0)845-226 5723

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