---
layout: post
status: publish
published: true
title: OUSU Freedom of Information requests

wordpress_id: 18
wordpress_url: http://new.martineve.com/?p=18
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categories:
- Politics
tags:
- freedom of information
comments: []
---
<p>          So, it <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/10088448.stm">transpires</a> that the Oxford University Students Union have had their <a href="http://www.ousu.org/about/campaigns/b/funding-our-future/foi-request-for-russell-group-submission-to-browne-review-1">freedom of information request</a> rejected on the grounds that it is scheduled to be published.
 The <a href="http://www.ousu.org/about/campaigns/b/funding-our-future/foi-request-for-russell-group-submission-to-browne-review-1/information-commissioner-threat-and-rejection-of-foi-request/">exact wording</a> reads:
 "I am therefore satisfied it is in the public's interest to withhold this information until it is published by the Russell Group."
 This is slightly troubling. Surely the action in the "public's interest" would have been to have made the findings available at the earliest moment (ie. at the point of writing the report, rather than submitting in secrecy) so as to allow transparency and debate on the issue. Quite clearly, this is not what is wanted.
 What is being actually being achieved here is a political point-scoring exercise in which the results are being withheld <b>until after the election</b> so as to bolster student support for those parties which have pledged to keep or raise tuition fees.
 Same old, same old.</p>