BN66 - the road to Judicial Review

[BrilloPad]

Sorry to be a harbinger of doom, I know for myself that I just want this case resolved, but I assume that whichever side loses on Jan 19th will appeal, so we shouldn't get too excited?

I hope for resolution by 2012. Or is that too optimistic?

[Richard Splash]

I think the FOI requests are starting to cause them a spot of bother.

This must have got them rattled because they replied bloody quickly for them.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques...n_58_foi_reque

This one should give them a bit of trouble.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques..._to_foi_reques

There are an increasing number that they don't seem to want to answer, and there are still plenty more in the pipeline (see below).

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/hmrc

And of course the question begged when you read down this exhuastive list of outstanding queries is: If the law was so damn clear then why did they need all these meetings to discuss it.. Well done DR your outstanding query is a belter and one would think it is farely easy to answer too, so why the delay... You must have struck a nerve...

Belated thanks to you and the others on this threat. Please let me know if there is any way I can contribute or help out. (no requests for cash though - I'm out of work and strapped).

[DonkeyRhubarb]

HMRC really rattled now

They've got the lawyers involved.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques...incoming-56673

[helen7]

"In conjunction with our lawyers we
have been considering, and for some are continuing to consider, our
options"

In other words...."We are just working out the best excuse to tell you to bug*er off"

[PlaneSailing]

They've got the lawyers involved.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques...incoming-56673

I wondered how long it would be before the 'vexatious' word got used.

[bananarepublic]

I wondered how long it would be before the 'vexatious' word got used.

The blummin cheek!! Perhaps if they had answered some of the previous requests then new ones would not have been needed. This whole FOI nonsense is typical Zanulabour farce - legislate sighting high principle - then ignore it when it doesn't suit you.

[OnYourBikeGB]

They've got the lawyers involved.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques...incoming-56673

Umm, let me think about that.

They set the limits on the response, they then staff with an insufficient team (though I'd imagine the various questions flying in from journalists etc etc all get answered pretty promptly) to the point that they can't manage the response.

When they do reply, they won't answer the questions and ask you to resubmit because you are asking too much.

Because you have to ask again, they get shirty because they think you are being 'vexatious'?

Smarter still, they want to lump all the questions together to they can avoid answering them on the grounds of cost?

Its like something out of Yes, Minister. So basically, Freedom of Information means, we aren't going to tell you because we are so busy establishing that we don't know anything, and if you keep asking, we'll get the legal heavies in? George Orwell could have done a series on this lot.

One thing that absolutely amazes me is how little information they seem to have. Stunning, but on the bright side, it means there must be lots of scope for job cuts at HMRC, seeing as there is so little information to manage. I know where I'd start!

[SantaClaus]

I wonder if requests from 2000 different people could be considered vexatious?

Maybe we should ALL submit FOI requests just to prove that nothing vexatious is going on

[TheGadgetMan]

I wonder if requests from 2000 different people could be considered vexatious?

Maybe we should ALL submit FOI requests just to prove that nothing vexatious is going on

Great idea Santa...2000 FOI Requests would also go a long way towards proving that releasing all the information we have requested IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST!!!

...Perhaps this might be a bargaining tool...either FOI stop arseing about and release the information requested (the FOI requests are, after all, fair, reasonable and in the public interest) OR they get hit by 2000 FOI requests by 2000 interested parties...if they think they are undermanned and overworked now, they aint seen nothing yet...

[DonkeyRhubarb]

Response to FOI Department

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques...outgoing-43507

For the moment I have decided to overlook the fact that HMRC's lawyers appear to have been complicit in breaking the law.