Information requested by Researching Reform in June, on government ministers with financial interests in fostering and adoption agencies, has been refused by the Ministry of Justice and The Department For Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Ministry of Justice’s replies to two of our Freedom Of Information requests relating to the above query, cited costs as the underlying factor for not being able to provide the information, but did offer the suggestion of narrowing down the request in order to access these details.
The DWP’s response is more controversial. The department’s approach was to classify the data requested as personal information, which under current legislation is protected and so not required to be shared, unless it falls into one or more of the following categories:
- Consent from the individual/s concerned
- Compliance with a court order;
- The prevention of the duplication of payments from public
funds, or; - Where there is a compelling public interest in making the disclosure
Given that adoption and fostering agencies have been routinely privatised over the last few years, raising serious concerns about their efficiency and financial structures, and that ministers have in the past been accused of profiting from these agencies at the expense of children inside the care system, this information clearly crosses the public interest threshold.
Researching Reform also wrote to other Departments, so we will have to see what they come back with. Please don’t hold your breath. And yes, we will be narrowing down our requests and trying again. There’s something here.
Maggie tuttle said:
THE ANSWER IS NORMAL IS IT ANY WONDER KIDS TAKEN INTO CARE WILL ALWAYS BE TAKEN AND ABUSED, WE NEED MORE INFO FROM THE POLICE
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Dr. Manhattan. said:
Jon Wedger is your only hope.
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Nemo Momenti said:
One way to narrow down the request is to split it up into several smaller requests, so that the cost limit applies to each request individually. So (1) Ask for the list of names (2) Make a request for each name separately!
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daveyone1 said:
Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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Dr. Manhattan. said:
This is exactly the same technique used by Councils to fob off parents making FOi requests. it would seem the FOi act has been undermined by cunning individuals who dont want the truth out. they just love those get out Clauses!
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tummum said:
Reblogged this on tummum's Blog.
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Pingback: Government Refuses To Offer Details Of Ministers Invested In Fostering And Adoption Agencies | tummum's Blog
ihtoit said:
it’s called “external interests” and ministers are obliged by law to disclose them. At which point those disclosures become a matter of public record in the Parliamentary Register of Interests.
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Dr. Manhattan. said:
The fact that the DWP refused to share the information must mean Yes government ministers do have financial interests in fostering and adoption agencies. if they didnt the DWP would have nothing to withhold.
The withholding of information in any FOi request is highly suspicious and would shurely indicate that what you suspect must be true.
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