Seminar | Commerce & Technology

Freedom of Information Act: the new rules
Wednesday 2nd March 2005
at 222 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8XF

SJ Berwin has the pleasure in inviting you to a Breakfast Seminar to focus on the new rules which came into force on 1 January 2005, that will transform the historic policy of secrecy of information retained by public authorities into one of openness. This seminar looks at the impact of these rules on the private sector and in particular provides practical solutions for private sector organisations wishing to keep information they have provided to a public authority confidential.

Background

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 came fully into force on 1 January 2005. From this date any person whatever their nationality or location will be able to request and obtain information held by UK public authorities, subject to a number of exemptions. No justification for requesting the information is needed. Competitors, journalists and pressure groups may therefore seek to use the Act or Regulations to obtain sensitive commercial information about organisations which deal with the public sector.


This seminar will answer some of the questions raised by the operation of the Act and Regulations, particularly their impact on private sector trading businesses and investment houses.

Timetable

  • 08.30 Registration/refreshments
  • 08.45 Seminar begins
  • 09.30 Questions & answers
  • 09.45 Seminar ends/refreshments

Programme
An update on the work of the ICO - Sue Markey

  • Role of the Information Commissioner
  • Implications for the private sector
  • The public interest
Keeping your secrets - the impact of the Freedom of Information Act - Andrew Shindler
  • Background to FOIA
  • Why worry?
  • Keeping your secrets - theory
  • Keeping your secrets - practice
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 - Simon Ricketts
  • "Environment" widely defined
  • Narrower exemptions
  • Not just public bodies
The private equity experience - Simon Witney
  • Public bodies as investors in funds
  • US and UK rules as they apply to investors
  • Strategies to avoid disclosure: confidentiality, give-back reports and non-disclosure
  • Practical housekeeping steps to safeguard confidential information

Training
SJ Berwin is accredited as a provider of continuing professional development by the Law Society and other professional bodies. Attendance at this seminar qualifies as 1 CPD hours, quoting reference 012/SJBE.

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