FOI act

[steve99]

My question is in two parts and is hypothetical.
I hope the answers will help me better understand the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

My understanding is that if I make a FOI request to a public body they must respond with an answer, a refusal to answer, or must state they do not have the information I require.

1. If the information that I require can reasonably be obtained by a public body, do they need to collect the information if they do not already have it available in an existing document?

For example a document is unlikely to exist showing "the exact number of computer screens that have integrated speakers within a given council building", it would however be reasonably simple for the council to collect this information if it were requested.

2.
I understand that if I make a request that will cost less than �450 to answer, I will not be charged(?).

If immediately prior to making a FOI request for my 'speakers on computer screens' question a third party were to provide the public body with a quote for �400 to answer that exact question, would the public body need to purchase the �400 service and bear the cost (assuming answering the question using internal resource or a different external contractor would cost greater than �450) ?


Thanks.

[Info Bank]

I work for a local authority and am aware of the Freedom of Information Act but cant make sence of your Question.

Sorry it,s late and ive had a pint or Two.

Maybe this can help.

http://www.yrtk.org/

[dzug]

That third party would be required to quote against the standard terms and conditions of the Council, not just pluck a figure out of the blue.

So I would guess that the Council if they were so minded could add the cost of adding him to their approved contractors list and say that took the quote over the limit.

Purely an opinion.