Media Roundup

Daily Telegraph - Travellers are dodging council tax
"A council's claim that travellers at a controversial site were no more likely to dodge council tax than nearby village home owners has been disproved by figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act."

Lexis Nexis- Why media 'sceptical' of Freedom of Information Act's 'era of openness'
"Six months after the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) came in to force heralding a “new era of openness”. Keith Mathieson, a media law partner at City firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, discusses with Jon Robins how useful the legislation has been in allowing the press to access hitherto undisclosed information..."

Epsom Guardian - We’re not complacent on MRSA, say hospital
"BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Hospitals NHS Trust has defended its record for cases of the superbug MRSA at its Amersham and Wycombe hospitals. Figures acquired by the Free Press under the Freedom of Information Act revealed there have been 85 cases at the two sites since January 2002."

Borehamwood Times - NCP – just the ticket?
"Data obtained by the Free Press under the Freedom of Information Act revealed parking attendants are required to enforce regulations "strictly to the letter of the law".


East Anglian Daily Times - Hospital 'negligence' payouts revealed
"HOSPITALS in north Essex have paid out nearly £13million in just three years to settle clinical negligence claims, the EADT can reveal.Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that alleged blunders at hospitals in the area cost taxpayers an average of more than £4million a year."

Wales on Sunday - Storm rages over WDA junkets
"The Welsh Development Agency spent £143,499 of public money hosting businesses and politicians from November to April. The figures were released to Wales on Sunday under the Freedom of Information Act."

Sunday Herald - Files reveal nuclear waste dumping ‘shambles’
"According to secret government documents made public last week under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, two successive secretaries of state for Scotland, Malcolm Rifkind and Ian Lang, gave the go-ahead to controversial research on nuclear waste, despite doubts about the professionalism of the industry."

This is Devon - Police chief claimed £7,000 expenses
"Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Maria Wallis ran up expenses amounting to thousands of pounds last year, according to figures published for the first time yesterday."

This is South Wales - Parents call for report's release
"A Key report on the safety of Swansea Marina, close to where a 21-year-old died, is being kept secret. Swansea Council has blocked an attempt by the South Wales Evening Post to allow our readers to see what the report says.The Post used the new Freedom of Information Act to try to obtain a copy of the report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa)."

Maghull & Aintree Star- Royal Mail refuses to disclose complaints
"ROYAL Mail has refused to reveal to the Maghull & Aintree Star exactly how many complaints they have received for the Maghull and Aintree area. Maghull & Aintree Star submitted a request to the company, under the Freedom of Information Act."

Kent Messenger - Parking charges
"PARKING charges have netted more than £4million for hospitals across Kent, according to figures obtained by the Kent Messenger Group." (thanks to Paul for this one)