The aim of each FOI Workshop is to provide delegates with an opportunity to work through practical scenarios with respect to a particular area of FOI compliance.

Each of the Workshops is run by a expert and considers a practical and realistic case study.  There will be considerable opportunity to put questions to the Workshop leader during the session and and to discuss issues with other delegates.

The Speakers' Presentations Day and the Workshops may be booked together or in any combination.  Attendance at the Workshops by Conference delegates is optional but it is anticipated that most Conference delegates will wish to attend one or more of the Workshops. 

The topics for the Workshops are:

A:  Handling Requests for Personal Data under DP and FOI
Jackie Gray - Director, Dickinson Dees LLP

B:  FOI Requests for Numerical Data
Damien Welfare - Barrister, 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square

C:  Information Sharing and FOI
Len Murray - Partner, Taylor Wessing
Sally Annereau - Associate, Taylor Wessing

D:  Conducting the Internal Review
Louise Townsend - Senior Associate, Pinsent Masons

Lunch will be provided at the venue starting at 12.45pm.

Each Workshop is accredited by the Law Society with 3 CPD Points.

The Conference and the Workshop sessions were enlightening and practical, giving one a solid grounding to both assess and address the risks in one's own organisation

John Burns, Executive, Association for Payment Clearing Services
 

Morning Sessions   ( 9.30pm – 12.45pm )

A:  Handling Requests for Personal Data under DP and FOI

Workshop led by Jackie Gray - Associate, Dickinson Dees LLP

Dealing with requests for personal information can be tricky, particularly when they cross the divide between the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act.  This session looks at the interaction between the two regimes, providing practical advice and tips on:

• complying with subject access requests under the DPA, including application of the exemptions
• responding to requests for third party personal information under FOI
• responding to requests for personal information about a deceased person

The Workshop will include an overview of the 2 regimes, the different legal requirements and how they interact in the context of the Section 40 FOI exemption.

Workshop Leader - Biography: Jackie Gray is an Associate with Dickinson Dees LLP in their Public Sector & Projects Team specialising in PPP and PFI projects, public sector outsourcing contracts, IT, freedom of information and data protection.  Jackie has advised both the private and public sectors on a wide range of areas including local government and health outsourcing projects, strategic partnerships, joint ventures and Building Schools for the Future with particular expertise in ICT.  She regularly provides client training and leads workshops on all aspects of information governance and is a member of the Editorial Board of Freedom of Information journal.

B:  FOI Requests for Numerical Data

Workshop led by Damien Welfare – Barrister, 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square

Often there are special considerations when dealing with requests for numerical data to be released under the Freedom of Information Act or the Environmental Information Regulations.  Sometimes accurate information must be distorted, and at other times it’s difficult to calculate the exact information that is being sought.  There may be exemptions/exceptions to consider, particularly if personal data are involved.  This Workshop focuses on issues that arise when dealing with FOI requests for numerical data, and covers issues such as:

• Barnardisation and the circumstances where numerical data becomes personal data
• compiling and releasing statistics on FOI requests
• salaries and expenses information
• information about the cost of contracts
• financial information
• requests for other numerical information

Afternoon Sessions   ( 2.00pm – 5.15pm )

C:  Information Sharing and FOI

Workshop led by Len Murray - Partner, Taylor Wessing and Sally Annereau, Associate, Taylor Wessing

When information is shared with a public authority, there is a risk that the information will then be subject to being released under Freedom of Information legislation.  Therefore, information professionals must be aware of multiple factors that arise in various information sharing scenarios.  In this Workshop, delegates will review recent ICO and Tribunal decisions relating to disclosure of contractual and procurement information, and then work through interactive scenarios considering:

• whether information needs to be disclosed to a public authority
• the risks associated with disclosure, and how to reduce those risks
• determining when information is held for the purposes of freedom of information
• issues that arise when information is shared between public authorities
• ways to avoid holding the information
• establishing controls and policies around information disclosure and sharing

Workshop Leaders - Biographies: Len Murray is a Partner at Taylor Wessing in the IT, Telecoms & Competition Group.  He advises the public sector and private businesses on a wide range of public and regulatory issues.  His practice includes advising on judicial reviews, statutory appeals and public body decision-making and consultations.  Len also regularly advises on matters such as freedom of information requests and public procurement issues.

Sally Annereau is an Associate at Taylor Wessing.  She has over 16 years experience of providing advice on data protection and wider regulatory issues governing the way in which businesses use information.  Sally worked previously for six years at the Information Commissioner’s Office.  She has also performed data protection compliance roles within the broadcasting, direct marketing and professional services industries.  Sally regularly presents and contributes to various publications on data protection and FOI.

 

D:  Conducting the Internal Review

Workshop led by Louise Townsend - Senior Associate, Pinsent Masons

Conducting the internal review is not just an administrative function, it’s a chance for a public authority to reassess an FOI request to ensure things were handled properly.  This Workshop reviews common pitfalls and problems and looks at legal, strategic and practical issues for reviewers and those handling the review process.  During the Workshop, delegates review the relevant decisions of the Information Commissioner and General Regulatory Chamber.  Delegates receive a checklist of the critical items to cover, such as:

• what people can complain about
• the process of review
• choosing the reviewer
• training and preparation for reviewers
• dealing with the applicant
• handling the review and what happens next

Workshop Leader - Biography: Louise Townsend is a Senior Associate in the Outsourcing, Technology and Commercial Group of Pinsent Masons.  She advises both public and private sector clients on data protection and freedom of information issues such as handling requests, applying exemptions, conducting internal reviews and handling appeals, as well as records management issues.  She is a member of the Editorial Board of Privacy & Data Protection and speaks and writes widely on information law.

I enjoyed all of the speakers and the interesting topics and I came away with some food for thought, but as ever, it’s the networking that is really useful and indeed a delegate was able to help me with a problem I am experiencing just now, so it was worth it just for that!  The venue was very good and the organisers seemed very professional and I hope to return for this event next year. Thank you for an enjoyable day

Sue Howlett, Information Protection & Security Manager, Staffordshire University