59 things that would have stayed secret
 

I read through some papers online this morning and found this article c/o The Times.

59 things that would have stayed secret. What they didn't want you to know: A list of intriguing facts disinterred by the Freedom of Information Act.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/glo...cle1471409.ece

Foreign diplomats – who have diplomatic immunity – were accused of rapes, sexual assaults, child abuse and murders while working in Britain

People charged with certain criminal offences in Warwickshire are 30 per cent more likely to be convicted than those in Bedfordshire. The figures showed huge variations in performance of the Crown Prosecution Service

Politicians are spending £2.2bn a year of taxpayers’ money on private management consultants

Ian Huntley was officially “eliminated” as a suspect six days into the investigation into the Soham murders

These were just a few items I have cut and pasted. What else goes on?

Re: 59 things that would have stayed secret
 

John Birt, Tony Blair's key adviser in Downing Street, identified the abolition of National Service as a significant factor in the “exponential” rise in crime over the past 50 years

I agree with that one.

Re: 59 things that would have stayed secret
 

somehow i'm shocked but not surprised...

Re: 59 things that would have stayed secret
 

Sort of stretches the definition of "secret" if you can just ask the question and they answer though, doesn't it?

Re: 59 things that would have stayed secret
 

I understand this Government already wants to amend the Freedom of Information Act.

Re: 59 things that would have stayed secret
 

Yup. They claim it's for cost cutting reasons. Also, to be fair they do want to restrict spurious claims, frinstance one guy handed in 1800 questions to his local health board and complained when they weren't answered within 20 days. None of them were directly related to his care. I don't think anyone wants public money spent satisfying people's aimless curiousity but there's got to be a balance.

Re: 59 things that would have stayed secret
 

I notice they don't tell you WHICH criminal offences though:rolleyes:

I don't care, I'm not moving to Bedfordshire. I'll just have to behave:D

Re: 59 things that would have stayed secret
 

:smt045 class.