Mr Michael Caughey
Via email: [FOI #8126 email]
13 March 2009
Dear Mr Caughey
Freedom of Information request – RFI20090325
Thank you for your email received 14 February seeking the following under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (“the Act”);
1. Total number of requests received by the BBC since inception of FOI Act.
2. Total number of requests received by the BBC since the inception of FOI Act that were
successful.
3. Total number of requests received by The BBC since the inception of FOI Act that were rejected.
The reference number for your request is RFI20090325.
As background, I should explain that not all of the information held by the BBC is covered by the
Act (see Schedule I, Part VI of the Act). The statistics below include figures for those requests
where the requester made their request with reference to the Act, but in fact the information
requested was not covered by the Act (in other words it was outside the scope of the Act).
The BBC has received 4778 requests to date for information under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act since 1 January 2005.
In responding to requests for information under the Act, we do not classify outcomes as
“successful” or “rejected”. The categories we use are set out below:
•
All information disclosed
•
All information withheld – information can only be withheld where one of the
exemptions under the Act applies
•
Information partially disclosed - this applies where some, but not all, of the
information has been withheld. Even if only a single word is withheld, we would consider
the RFI outcome to be ‘Information partially disclosed’
•
Closed: no further information provided - for example, when the requester does not
provide sufficient information to make the RFI valid as a section 8 request, or when the
requester withdraws their RFI.
•
Information available elsewhere – this applies for example, when the information is
available in the annual report or on the BBC website.
•
Information not held
2005
Outcome
In scope
Out of scope
All information Disclosed
193
34
Information Partially Disclosed
165
120
All information withheld
120
246
Closed: No further info provided
32
1
Information Available Elsewhere
7
3
Information Not held
39
11
2006
Outcome
In scope Out of scope
All information Disclosed
215
30
Information Partially Disclosed
125
97
All information withheld
36
216
Closed: No further info provided
18
1
Information Available Elsewhere
0
1
Information Not held
28
10
2007
Outcome
In scope
Out of scope
All information Disclosed
259
84
Information Partially Disclosed
138
160
All information withheld
57
286
Closed: No further info provided 20
1
Information Available Elsewhere
5
1
Information Not held
45
20
2008
Outcome
In scope
Out of scope
All information Disclosed
367
79
Information Partially Disclosed
193
240
All information withheld
106
399
Closed: No further info provided 16
1
Information Available Elsewhere
7
Nil
Information Not held
58
17
Twenty-nine requests are still outstanding.
2009
Outcome
In scope
Out of scope
All information Disclosed
55
11
Information Partially Disclosed
30
100
All information withheld
22
86
Closed: No further info provided 5
Nil
Information Available Elsewhere
1
1
Information Not held
27
1
Ninety-three requests remain outstanding.
Appeal Rights
If you are not satisfied with this response you have the right to an internal review by a BBC senior
manager or legal adviser. Please contact us at the address above, explaining what you would like us
to review and including your reference number. If you are not satisfied with the internal review,
you can appeal to the Information Commissioner. The contact details are: Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone
01625 545 700 or see http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Yours sincerely
Fern Kersey
Adviser, Information Policy & Compliance
