Freedom of Information processing and staffing (FOI)

Request

A

How many staff currently work in the Freedom of Information (FOI) team answering requests?

B

How does the answer to 'A' compare to previous years dating back to 2013?

C

How long is the current average wait for a FOI request to be answered?

D

How does the answer to 'C' compare to previous years dating back to 2013?

E

How many FOI requests have had time extensions requested in 2018?

F

How does the answer to 'E' compare to previous years dating back to 2013?

G

How many FOI requests have been submitted in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013?

Response

The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 came in to force in January 2015. Data is therefore only available from that date.

A and B

Each States of Jersey department has a dedicated point of contact or recipient for Freedom of Information requests (POCs). This role is in addition to other roles they perform.

Historically the only individuals employed solely to work on Freedom of Information requests have been located within the Central Freedom of Information Unit (the CFU). The CFU currently comprises one full time Senior Freedom of Information Officer and one part time Freedom of Information Officer.

The CFU is the request handling ‘hub’ for SOJ, providing the logging and tracking of all requests and the issuing of responses to applicants.

One member of staff, appointed in July 2018, does now work exclusively on Freedom of Information requests on behalf of the Chief Minister’s Department and Treasury Department.

The CFU liaise with the POCs who arrange for the formulation of a response by those in the department who are best placed to provide the information.

The number of States of Jersey employees involved in a response will be dependent on the complexity of the request. Information on how many individuals are involved in preparing a response to a request is not held for each individual request.

Whilst there are only 2.5 staff employed solely to respond to requests, it falls upon existing staff within each States department to complete the requests.

The below diagram represents the flow of information:

FOI process flow chart

Information about the previous staffing of Freedom of Information is available in the following Freedom of Information responses:

October 2016: Freedom of Information statistics (FOI)

September 2017: Staffing costs of the Central Freedom of Information Unit (FOI)

C and D

Average time for processing FOI request

Note: Figures are updated on a monthly basis and adjusted in arrears – monthly reporting does not capture the full data due to outstanding requests. For this reason June and July figures are omitted.

E and F

Extensions are requested under Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 (the Law) if the responding department are unable to finalise a response within the 20 wording day response time dictated by the Law.

*Taking into account all extensions requested as at 31 July reporting

G