I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together.
The information sought by the Deputies in regard to freedom of information requests relevant to my Department is contained in the following tables.
Comparisons between the yearly number of applications show an increase between 1999, with 207 requests, and 2001, with 276 requests. The trend was downward after that with 146 requests in 2002 and 142 requests last year.
A comparison between the last two months of 2003 and of 2002 shows a decrease from 33 to nine. All requests received in my Department are processed in accordance with both the 1997 Act and the 2003 Act, and their implementation is kept under constant review.
Freedom of Information Requests 2002
|
Received
|
Granted
|
Part Granted
|
Refused
|
No records
|
Transferred
|
Withdrawn
|
Jan
|
20
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
Feb
|
12
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
March
|
14
|
6
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
April
|
10
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
May
|
10
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
June
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
July
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Aug
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
Sept
|
7
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
Oct
|
13
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Nov
|
15
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
5
|
Dec
|
18
|
10
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Total
|
146
|
49
|
35
|
10
|
25
|
9
|
18
|
Freedom of Information Requests 2003
|
Received
|
Granted
|
Part Granted
|
Refused
|
No records
|
Transferred
|
Withdrawn
|
Jan
|
21
|
2
|
7
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
Feb
|
29
|
9
|
11
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
March
|
30
|
10
|
9
|
3
|
6
|
0
|
2
|
April
|
10
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
May
|
11
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
June
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
July
|
13
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
Aug
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
Sept
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Oct
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Nov
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Dec
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Total
|
142
|
38
|
46
|
11
|
33
|
5
|
9
|