Results 1-14 of 14 for "freedom of information" speaker:Alun Michael

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: CAP Payments (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: ...on Common Agricultural Policy payments. The great majority of these were opposed to publication. The Government takes the view that it is in the public interest and consistent with the principles on Freedom of Information, for the information to be in the public domain.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Common Agricultural Policy (17 Mar 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: ...his ingenuity in working that matter into the exchanges on Question 7—entirely within order, I am sure. We are talking about how public money is spent and where it goes, in a culture in which freedom of information legislation means that information is available to the public. However, the hon. Gentleman does not seem interested in either of those things.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Farm Subsidies (10 Mar 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: The release of Common Agricultural Policy scheme payments details is currently under discussion and is also the subject of a number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations. A decision on how to respond to questions of this nature will be made shortly. I will write to the hon. Member to inform him of our decision.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: FOI Requests (3 Mar 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: ...of 14 requests for information where a reply has had to be extended past the statutory 20 working day limit due to the need to apply the Public Interest Test. Of these requests nine were under the Freedom of Information Act and five were under the new Environmental Information Regulations.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Parliamentary Questions (3 Mar 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: Requests for information on projects currently being undertaken by the Department would be considered on their merits in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act governing disclosure or exemption(s) from disclosure.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Freedom of Information (21 Feb 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: ...Guidance on Publication Schemes, issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in July 2002, recommended that where information is disclosed to an individual in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, Departments and NDPBs should consider whether the information disclosed is of general interest and include released information in the Publication Scheme where...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Freedom of Information (21 Feb 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: The number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations recorded on our central tracking system during January was 97. This does not include the many routine requests for information to which the Department responds as part of its normal business. During January, 28 of the 97 requests, were answered within the 20 working day deadline. The...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Freedom of Information (24 Jan 2005)

Mr Alun Michael: Until 2004 Defra had no staff working full-time on Freedom of Information. The full-time equivalents of staff in the Access to Information Unit, including those working on the implementation of the Environmental Information Regulations for Defra, in each of the years you mention is approximately as follows: Number (a) 2001 1 (b) 2002 1 (c) 2003 2 (d) 2004 7 That figure...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Departmental Files (20 Dec 2004)

Mr Alun Michael: ...take place in Defra under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Department will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Freedom of Information (18 Nov 2004)

Mr Alun Michael: Defra has not made an assessment of the likely cost of complying with the Freedom of Information Act during the first quarter of 2005 because it is not possible at this stage to predict with any assurance the volume of requests that the Department is likely to receive. The Department has been working actively to ensure that our staff are aware of the Act's requirements and have the support...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Farm Subsidies (25 Oct 2004)

Mr Alun Michael: ...does not at present publish farm-level data on subsidy receipts. However, we are considering the legal and other implications of publication in the context of the recent CAP reforms and the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which comes fully into force on 1 January 2005. The Data Protection Act puts certain restrictions on the release of what the Act defines as 'personal data'. The...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Environmental Information (9 Jun 2003)

Mr Alun Michael: Defra actively publishes and releases information according to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Its Publication Scheme can be viewed at www.defra.qov.uk/corporate/opengov/accessinfo.htm. The Information Commissioner has approved the scheme. Defra will also release information on request wherever possible. Policy related air quality information, including the Air Quality Strategy is...

Written Answers — Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Capita Group (5 Feb 2003)

Mr Alun Michael: ...Capita Group by the Department for recruitment services; project management work; and for training seminars and courses covering security; records management; knowledge management; Diversity and, Freedom of Information. During the FMD outbreak the Capita Group provided Clerks of Works to manage on-farm services in connection with cleansing and disinfection work.

Prayers: Toxic Waste Disposal (Wales) (10 Jul 1992)

Mr Alun Michael: It is very unlikely that we will hear anything from the Government. They may make statements about statements, but they are unlikely to give freedom of information or rights to our citizens. I am aware of the case that my hon. Friend mentions. It outraged people in Cardiff, members of the local authority and officers. That consignment, and probably many others that we do not know about, came...