The House of Lords has ruled on the first case before it involving the Freedom of Information Act: Common Services Agency (Appellants) v. Scottish Information Commissioner (Respondent) (Scotland). The decision concerned a request in 2005 by a Green Party researcher for data showing the incidence of childhood leukaemia at ward level in Dumfries and Galloway. The Commissioner ordered release of this statistical data in 'barnardised' form – a method for disguising statistical information to prevent identification. The Court of Session upheld the Commissioner's decision on appeal, after which the CSA took their case to the House of Lords.
The Lords ruled to allow the appeal and have remitted the decision back to the Commissioner, to establish whether or not the statistical information can be released without the risk of identifying individuals.
Friday, July 11, 2008
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