I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.
A total of 15 freedom of information requests have been received this year, none of which have proceeded to internal appeal. The following table sets out the percentage of requests which proceeded to internal appeal since the introduction of the Act.
Year
|
%
|
2003
|
4
|
2002
|
7.5
|
2001
|
10
|
2000
|
7.5
|
1999
|
7
|
1998
|
20
|
The number of freedom of information requests received during the first quarter of 2004 is 11. Eighty were received for the same period last year, 46 were received in 2002 and 91 were received in 2001.
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.