FOI use to apply political pressure

Adam Brooks made this Freedom of Information request to Cardiff University Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was successful.

Dear Cardiff University,

I make a request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. I am investigating the use of FOI request to apply pressure and encourage organisations to disregard their statutory responsibilities.

I understand that groups of people who hold gender critical beliefs are using the freedom of information act to apply pressure on organisations to change their policies to be hostile towards trans people. The FOIs are often passed on to journalists to add to create reputation al risks for organisations. In the instance of public authorities, this creates a pressure gradient not to uphold statutory duties as contained in the Equality Act 2010 and its statutory guidance.

I therefore request a copy of all correspondence to and from your organisation (whether as an FOI request or not) from 2016 to present. requesting details of policies relating to the terms trans, transgender, cross-dress, gender, gender identity, rainbow badge, LGBT, LGBT+, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ, and sex or from the following people or organisations (whether registered or invented);
LGB Alliance
Fair Play To Women
Fair Cop
Transgender Trend
Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine (SEGM)
Filia
Gender Critical Research Network
Sex Matters
Women’s Place UK
Women’s Declaration International
For Women Scotland
Maya Forstarter
Helen Joyce
James Esses
Kathleen Stock
Julie Bindle
Rosie Duffield
Joanna Cherry
Jill Johnston
Tony Young
Rod Liddle
Graham Lineham
John Mac Ghlion
Sam Leith
Brendon O’Neil
Harry Miller
Sarah Philimore
Emma Nicholson
Philip Patrick
Debra Hayton
James Kirkuo
Annabelle Dneham
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (sometimes who uses alias Posie Parker)

To be clear, and in order to comply with GDPR, personal details including the name of the individual requester or corresponder can be removed as required.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Brooks

InfoRequest, Cardiff University

Please note: The University will be closed for the Christmas break from 16:00 on Friday 22nd December 2023 until 09:00 Tuesday 2nd January 2024 and we will not be responding to emails during this time.

Dear Adam Brooks
I acknowledge receipt of your email received by this office on12 December 2023
Your request will now be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and has been allocated reference FOI23-501 which should be quoted in all correspondence. We will respond to your request within 20 working days starting the next working day after receipt, therefore you can expect to receive a response no later than 15 January 2024.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and, if that is the case, we will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.
Yours sincerely

Swyddfa Ysgrifenydd y Brifysgol
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Ebost : [email address]

Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhwy oedi.

University Secretary's Office
Cardiff University
Email: [email address]

The University welcomes correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.

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InfoRequest, Cardiff University

Dear Adam,

Further to our email below, I would be grateful if you could provide a separated list of names that you wish us to search.

Unfortunately, with the current formatting I am unable to tell which group is which. eg Women's Place UK Women's Declaration International For Women Scotland.

Please be aware that the legal response time of 20 working days for responding to your request will not begin until we receive this clarification from you.

Kind regards,

Swyddfa Ysgrifenydd y Brifysgol
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Ebost : [email address]

Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhwy oedi.
University Secretary's Office
Cardiff University
Email: [email address]

The University welcomes correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.

show quoted sections

Dear InfoRequest,

Thank you for your email. I’m not sure what is wrong with the formatting that you can’t see the list, but it is;

LGB Alliance, Fair Play To Women, Fair Cop, Transgender Trend, Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), Filia, Gender Critical Research Network, Sex Matters, Women’s Place UK, Women’s Declaration International, For Women Scotland, Maya Forstarter, Helen Joyce, James Esses, Kathleen Stock, Julie Bindle, Rosie Duffield, Joanna Cherry, Jill Johnston, Tony Young, Rod Liddle, Graham Lineham, John Mac Ghlion, Sam Leith, Brendon O’Neil, Harry Miller, Sarah Philimore, Emma Nicholson, Philip Patrick, Debra Hayton, James Kirkuo, Annabelle Dneham, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (sometimes who uses alias Posie Parker).

Yours sincerely,

Adam Brooks

InfoRequest, Cardiff University

3 Attachments

Dear Adam,

 

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request dated 12th
December 2023.

 

 

For ease of reference, I have reproduced your questions below and set out
our corresponding responses.

 

I therefore request a copy of all correspondence to and from your
organisation (whether as an FOI request or not) from 2016 to present.
requesting details of policies relating to the terms trans, transgender,
cross-dress, gender, gender identity, rainbow badge, LGBT, LGBT+, LGBTQ+,
LGBTQ, and sex or from the following people or organisations (whether
registered or invented);

 

LGB Alliance, Fair Play To Women, Fair Cop, Transgender Trend, Society for
Evidence Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), Filia, Gender Critical Research
Network, Sex Matters, Women’s Place UK, Women’s Declaration International,
For Women Scotland, Maya Forstarter, Helen Joyce, James Esses, Kathleen
Stock, Julie Bindle, Rosie Duffield, Joanna Cherry, Jill Johnston, Tony
Young, Rod Liddle, Graham Lineham, John Mac Ghlion, Sam Leith, Brendon
O’Neil, Harry Miller, Sarah Philimore, Emma Nicholson, Philip Patrick,
Debra Hayton, James Kirkuo, Annabelle Dneham, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull
(sometimes who uses alias Posie Parker).

 

 

All requests for policies are submitted to the Inforequest team in order
for the request to be dealt with under FOI regulations. We have searched
the criteria you have specified and enclose the relevant requests.

 

Under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we have
redacted names  as the disclosure of information from which the
individuals concerned may be identified would be unfair and a breach of
the data protection principles. 

 

 

           

I trust this information satisfies your enquiry.  Should you feel
dissatisfied with this response or the way in which your request was
handled you can request an Internal Review. This should be made in writing
within 40 working days of the date of this email. Please provide your
unique reference number of your request, information on why you are
dissatisfied and any detail you would like us to consider as part of the
Internal Review process. Email your request to
[1][email address] where it will be forwarded to the Head of
Compliance and Risk who will be responsible for overseeing the review.

 

 

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner for consideration.  The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at the following address:
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Cardiff University. If you require further assistance, please feel free to
contact me.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Swyddfa Ysgrifenydd y Brifysgol University Secretary’s Office

Prifysgol Caerdydd Cardiff University

Ebost : [2][email address] Email: [3][email address
 
 
 
The University welcomes
Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu correspondence in Welsh or English. 
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n Saesneg.  Corresponding in Welsh will not lead
Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu to any delay.
unrhwy oedi.

 

 

 

References

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