The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a practice recommendation to the Department of Health (DoH) demanding improvements in the way the DoH handles requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Among other things, the recommendation criticises the DoH for repeatedly failing to offer appropriate advice and assistance to people making FOIA requests, and for delaying the conduct of internal reviews beyond a reasonable timescale. The DoH is also accused of applying blanket exemptions to requested information, so effectively withholding entire documents from release. The practice recommendation follows an ICO decision earlier this year on several breaches of the FOIA by the DoH over a request for information relating to its electronic recruitment service. The ICO is concerned that current staffing levels may not support the volume of FOIA requests which the DoH receives, and it recommends a review of the number of staff qualified to deal with FOI requests and their deployment.

Source: ICO practice recommendation, 31 March 2008 and ICO press release, 3 April 2008.