FOI Friday: The cost of unions, the cost of dying, the cost of parking … and escaping prisoners

The cost of dying goes up The Scotsman used FOI to find out how much cremation and burial charges had risen as a result of recent spending cuts – in some places it has doubled, while overall the amount raised from such services has gone from £8million to £16million. The cost of residents permits goes

FOI Friday: Dodging magistrates, the race for Oxbridge, big cats and clearing up after gypsies

How many going to university? Some interesting data from the Western Mail, which used FOI to ask how many students from each of the towns in Wales had been enrolled at Oxford and Cambridge in recent years. In some parts of Wales, not a single student has attended Oxbridge for seven years. No shows at

FOI Friday: 999 attacks, bin fines, obese babies and plastic surgery

Area-by-area crime rates – and how many are solved (Oxford Mail) There’s been a lot of debate about how valuable, or otherwise, the police crime maps are. They tell you about crime a month later, aren’t that accurate when it comes to naming the location and won’t tell you if the crime has been solves.

FOI Friday: Custard spills, charity finances, twocking – and an important breakthrough

Regional Development Agency assets An important precedent has hopefully been set this week by the Birmingham Post when it comes to FOI. Regional Development Agencies were a relatively late addition to FOI coverage, and since their demise was announced, some have been reluctant to reveal how much they are selling their assets for. The Birmingham

FOI Friday: 10 things we’ve learnt this week thanks to the Freedom of Information Act

Lying Parents School place appeals stories are always popular and controversial, and in recent years many councils have vowed to get tough on those who lie to get their children into good schools. But how many parents have been found to be lying? The Gloucestershire Echo used FOI to find out. Forced adoptions A good

FOI Friday: 10 things we’ve learnt this week thanks to the Freedom of Information Act

1. Anti-social behaviour in the library There was a time when it was the contents of some books which caused most offence in libraries. Apparently that’s not the case now in Lincolnshire, when indecent exposure, public urination 2. Dog attacks The Southport Visiter reports on the number of dog attacks in Southport – based on

FOI Friday: 10 things we’ve learnt this week thanks to Freedom of Information

1. Snakes in a school I mentioned on here before Christmas about an FOI request made by the Dundee Courier for pest control reports involving local hospitals. A different take on that FOI comes from a local Labour councillor who, the BBC reports, asked for the pest control reports involving local schools. The council replied