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1000 FOI Stories from 2006 and 2007

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1000 FOI Stories from 2006 and 2007 The Campaign for Freedom of Information 1000 FOI Stories from 2006 and 2007 Introduction This publication summarises more than a thousand press stories published in 2006 and 2007 as a result of disclosures under the UK and Scottish freedom of information laws. The stories demonstrate the enormous range of information being released under FOI. They include significant disclosures about the Iraq conflict, the possible cause of gulf war syndrome, assaults on public service staff, the state of civil service morale, compensation paid to victims of medical accidents, schoolsʼ efforts to inflate their exam results, hospital techniques for deflating waiting lists, the universities teetering on the edge of financial collapse, police officers with criminal records, government efforts to encourage gambling, lobbying by multinational oil, pharmaceutical and food companies, nuclear safety and other hazards, crimes committed by offenders on parole, unpublicised prison escapes, the expansion of the national DNA database and innumerable reports about high expenses claims and dubious public spending. These disclosures throw new light on the governmentʼs approach to many issues, identify shortcomings in public service delivery, highlight other problems which have not been addressed and show where policies have succeeded. They reveal the substantial contribution to accountability made by the FOI Act. The stories are taken from those published in national and regional papers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during 2006 and 2007. The report follows the Campaignʼs earlier report summarising 500 FOI stories published in 2005, the legislationʼs first year (available from www.cfoi.org.uk/pdf/FOIStories2005.pdf). Most of these stories are based on FOI requests made by journalists, though some may be reporting on FOI requests made by other requesters. The summaries reflect the language and perspective of the original articles, not the Campaignʼs views. The research for this report was carried out by Jim Matthew and Robin Robison. Subject index Armed Forces Families Legal Costs Psychic Powers A rms Trade F arming L ibraries R egeneration A rts F irearms Lobb ying R eligion A ssaults F looding M edicines R estructuring B enefits F ood Safety M emoirs Ri ghts of Entry B roadcasting F ox Hunting N orthern Ireland R oyal Family C harities F reedom of Information N uclear S alaries Civil service F unerals N uclear Power S cottish Parliament C ompensation G ambling N uclear Weapons S ecurity Computer Systems Ghosts Olympics Smoking Ban C onsultants G ifts P arking S ocial Services C osts G rants P arliament S port C ourts H ealth P assports and ID Cards S tandards in Public Life C riminal Records H ealth & Safety P ensions T axation D efence His toric Buildings P ets, Wildlife & Zoos T errorism D rugs His torical P FI T ourism E conomy H onours P hone Masts T rading Standards E ducation H ospitality P lanning T raffic Cameras E mergency Planning H ousing P olicing T ransport E mployment I mmigration P olicing Costs T ravellers E nvironment I ndustrial Relations P ost Office U FOs E quality & Diversity I nquiries P rime Minister U rban Myth E xpenditure I nternational Relations P risons W aste E xpenses I nternet P rivacy W elsh Assembly -1- 1000 FOI Stories from 2006 and 2007 Story Date Publication Public Authority Subject Massacre of the Red Caps 08.01.06 The Observer Ministry of Defence Armed Forces It was the largest single loss of life under enemy fire since the Falklands war - six British soldiers murdered in a tumbledown police station in southern Iraq. Information released under the FOI Act reveals for the first time serious allegations that are at odds with official accounts of the episode. They shine fresh light on an incident that still casts a pall over Britain's involvement in Iraq more than 30 months on. Documents suggest that the army, told the Red Caps were trapped, did not order a rescue mission and that the men may still have been alive when an officer from one of the UK's elite fighting units, who was nearby, was told they were cornered, but chose not to offer assistance because it was too dangerous. Fewer paras earn their wings 13.03.06 The Daily Ministry of Defence Armed Forces The number of paratroopers qualified to parachute has fallen dramatically since the invasion Telegraph of Iraq because the air transport arm of the RAF has been unable to provide enough aircraft. Figures obtained under the FOI Act show that the number to have successfully completed the parachute course at Brize Norton has fallen from 92% in 2003 to just under 25% last year. Hundreds of soldiers, who have to complete the arduous P Company selection before going to parachute school, have returned to their units without their coveted wings. The figures are even worse for Territorial Army paratroopers with only one person - a medical student who reported sick and was granted extra time off - getting through last year. In 2003, 93% of TA paratroopers passed. The RAF has been blamed for lacking flexibility in providing aircraft, but Air Force chiefs say their fleet of 50 C130 Hercules has a priority to deliver supplies to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq invasion is blamed as thousands resign from TA 15.06.06 The Daily Ministry of Defence Armed Forces The Territorial Army has suffered a drastic loss of experienced personnel with almost 16,000 Telegraph troops quitting since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, information released under the FOI Act has revealed. The reserve army, which has been widely used to support under-manned regular units in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan, is now 7,000 below full strength. In the past year the TA lost 5,000 personnel, leaving 32,000 members. In 1985 it had a strength of 81,000. The Army has come to rely heavily on the TA. More than 13,000 reservists have served in the Middle East and many have resigned on completing six-month operational tours. The figures obtained by the Scottish National Party show that between October 2003 and October 2005 the TA lost 15,670 soldiers who have been replaced by 13,570 new recruits - a shortfall of 2,100. © Campaign for Freedom of Information -2- 1000 FOI Stories from 2006 and 2007 Private security costs £150m 23.09.06 The Times Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Britain has paid out more than £150m on security guards and training for local police to protect diplomats in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 400 guards were hired from four specialists security firms: Control Risks Group, ArmorGroup, Kroll Security Group and Edinburgh Risk Security Management. Between May 2003 and August 2006, the Government agreed contracts totalling £152m. The details of the contracts were revealed to Channel 4 News Online, under the FOI Act. The biggest single bill was £47.8m for contracts in Iraq for 2005-06. Gulf soldiers 'fell ill before leaving UK' 15.10.06 The Sunday Ministry of Defence Armed Forces The MoD received claims from Second Gulf War veterans who became ill immediately after Express immunisations and did not make it out of Britain according to a memo released under the FOI Act. The document adds weight to claims that ‘Gulf War syndrome’ was caused by the cocktail of injections given before both the Gulf conflicts. Thousands of veterans are claiming compensation for Gulf War syndrome, which the MoD has always denied existed. Iraqis get £1.2m in payouts from MoD 25.10.06 The Daily Ministry of Defence Armed Forces More than £1.2m has been paid out to Iraqis by the MoD in compensation for the actions of Telegraph British forces since the conflict began in May 2003. Claims for compensation arising from deaths and serious injuries are determined in the UK. Other payments are based on advice from a local judge in the southern city of Basra and reflect the loss sustained by the claimants. The judge's advice is considered by an area claims officer based at Basra airport. Despite the sensitivity surrounding operations in Iraq and interaction with the local population, the MoD has not changed its policy in relation to payouts to civilians affected by the actions of British troops. "Compensation claims for Iraqi citizens are handled in the same way as in previous theatres of operations,'' the MoD said. A total of £261,476 has been paid to Iraqis in compensation for those who had been killed or injured while £962,765 has been paid for damage to property. 11,000 soldiers have gone AWOL since the Iraq campaign started 26.03.07 The Daily Mail Ministry of Defence Armed Forces The scale of soldiers' disillusionment with the Iraq war is revealed as figures show that 11,000 troops have gone on the run since the start of the campaign. Of the total, 960 are still absent without leave the equivalent of around one and a half infantry battalions. The Ministry of Defence was forced to reveal the latest figures for AWOL soldiers following a request under the FOI Act. © Campaign for Freedom of Information -3- 1000 FOI Stories from 2006 and 2007 Ministers ignored briefing to criticise report on Iraqi civilian casualties 28.03.07 The Guardian Ministry of Defence Armed Forces The government's own scientists advised ministers that the Johns Hopkins study on Iraq civilian mortality was accurate and reliable according to information released under the FOI Act. This paper was published in the Lancet in October 2006. It estimated that 650,000 Iraqi civilians had died since the American and British led invasion in March 2003.
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