Big Al's Spot (& Annie too)

I don't want to create work and hassle for Public bodies for the sake of it, but having spent £176 odd on a training course that had a lot to say about how the Freedom of Information (FOI herein) Act 2000 works, I can't help but stick my oar in when I see what is to my mind a method of restricting questions via the FOI Act.

Went to my local NHS trust website and was once again trying to find what questions had already been asked under the FOI Act and all I could see was web form, however the web form was prepared to in such a way that it was asking way too much personal information from me which was mandatory in order to progress a question to them. i.e. more or less who, what, where and why. This is where my £176 comes in, apparently you don't actually have to give anything more than an email address according to FOI Section 8 where:

• 8 Request for information
  (1) In this Act any reference to a “request for information” is a reference to such a request which—
  (a) is in writing,
  (b) states the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence, and
  (c) describes the information requested.
  
• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), a request is to be treated as made in writing where the text of the request—
  (a) is transmitted by electronic means,
  (b) is received in legible form, and
  (c) is capable of being used for subsequent reference.

So I stated my name and gave my email address, which is fulling compliant with a valid request under Section 8 of the FOI Act 2000.

Playing Devil's Advocate I asked if they had a disclosure log of questions asked and then I asked a few searching questions about re-admissions after being discharged from A&E and whether or not a re-admission within a very short period of time was charged to the PCT at a reduced or higher tariff. i.e. only questions someone with a bit of knowledge would know.

It will be interesting to see if I actually get a comprehensive reply.