<commit_before><% @title = "Making requests" %>
<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %>
<div id="left_column_flip" class="left_column_flip">
  <h1 id="making_requests"><%= @title %> <a href="#making_requests">#</a></h1>
  <strong>Never made a request before?</strong> Follow our
  <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2014/08/15/how-to-make-a-freedom-of-information-request-with-whatdotheyknow/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link"
  title="How to make a Freedom of Information request with WhatDoTheyKnow">beginners’ guide.</a>
  <dl>
    <dt id="which_authority">
      I&rsquo;m not sure which authority to make my request to, how can I find
      out?
      <a href="#which_authority">#</a>
    </dt>
    <dd>
    <p>It can be hard to untangle the complicated structure of government,
      and work out who has the information you want. Here are a few tips:
    </p>
    <ul>
      <li>
        Browse or <a href="<%= search_redirect_path %>">search</a>
        WhatDoTheyKnow and look for similar requests to the one you plan to
        make: which authority were they sent to, and were they successful? If
        so, it&rsquo;s probably the one you want.
      </li>

      <li>
        It&rsquo;s always worth double-checking though, so when you&rsquo;ve found an
        authority you think might have the information, use the
        &ldquo;home page&rdquo; link on the right hand side of their page to
        check their website and see exactly what their responsibilities are.
      </li>

      <li>
        You might even contact the authority by phone or email to ask if they
        hold the kind of information you&rsquo;re after.
      </li>

      <li>
        But at the end of the day, there’s no need to worry too much about
        getting the right authority. If you get it wrong, they ought to advise
        you who to make the request to instead.
      </li>

      <li>
        If you&rsquo;ve got a tricky case, please
        <a href="<%= help_contact_path %>">contact us</a> for help. We have a
        great team of volunteer administrators who are willing to help.
      </li>

    </ul>
    </dd>
    <dt id="missing_body">
      You&rsquo;re missing the public authority that I want to request from!
      <a href="#missing_body">#</a>
    </dt>
    <dd>
      <p>
        Please <a href="<%= new_change_request_path %>">contact us</a> with the
        name of the public authority and, if you can find it, their contact email
        address for Freedom of Information requests.
      </p>

      <p>
        If you&rsquo;d like to help add a whole category of public authorities
        to the site, we&rsquo;d love to hear from you too.
      </p>
    </dd>
    <dt id="authorities">
      Why do you include some authorities that aren’t formally subject to laws
      on access to public information?
      <a href="#authorities">#</a> </dt>
    <dd>
      <p>
        As well as providing a simple way to make Freedom of Information
        requests, WhatDoTheyKnow actively campaigns for the expansion of the scope
        of Freedom of Information law to cover a wider number of public bodies.
      </p>
      <p>
        Via the site, you can make requests for information to a range of
        organisations:
      </p>
      <ul>
        <li>
          Those formally subject to the FOI Act (as set out in Schedule One
          of the Act, as amended).
        </li>
        <li>
          Those formally subject to the Environmental Information Regulations or
          EIR (a more ambiguous group which includes bodies subject to FOI, and in
          addition a wider group of bodies with some public role such as utility
          companies. Currently the legal precedent for setting out which bodies
          are subject to EIR is the judgement in the
          <a href="https://actnowtraining.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/open-the-floodgates-water-companies-subject-to-eir/">
          Fish Legal</a> case).
        </li>
        <li>
          Public bodies which voluntarily comply with the FOI Act even though
          they are not legally obliged to.
        </li>
        <li>
          Those which aren’t subject to the Act
          <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/list/foi_no">but which we
          think should be</a>, for example because they have significant public
          responsibilities. These include bodies which operate as a regulator,
          make public appointments, or distribute significant amounts of public
          funds.
        </li>
      </ul>
    </dd>
    <dt id="focused">
      Why must I keep my request focused?
      <a href="#focused">#</a>
    </dt>
    <dd>
    <p>
      A Freedom of Information request is just what the name implies: a request
      for information, or data. If the authority holds the data, in most cases,
      the law obliges them to release it.
    </p>
    <p>
      You can speed up the process by making your request concise, clear and
      focused. Include nothing more than what is needed for the Information
      Officer to understand what information you are asking for.
    </p><commit_msg>Update requesting.html.erb<commit_after><% @title = "Making requests" %>
<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %>
<div id="left_column_flip" class="left_column_flip">
  <h1 id="making_requests"><%= @title %> <a href="#making_requests">#</a></h1>
  <strong>Never made a request before?</strong> Follow our
  <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2014/08/15/how-to-make-a-freedom-of-information-request-with-whatdotheyknow/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link"
  title="How to make a Freedom of Information request with WhatDoTheyKnow">beginners’ guide.</a>
  <dl>
    <dt id="which_authority">
      I&rsquo;m not sure which authority to make my request to, how can I find
      out?
      <a href="#which_authority">#</a>
    </dt>
    <dd>
    <p>It can be hard to untangle the complicated structure of government,
      and work out who has the information you want. Here are a few tips:
    </p>
    <ul>
      <li>
        Browse or <a href="<%= search_redirect_path %>">search</a>
        WhatDoTheyKnow and look for similar requests to the one you plan to
        make: which authority were they sent to, and were they successful? If
        so, it&rsquo;s probably the one you want.
      </li>

      <li>
        It&rsquo;s always worth double-checking though, so when you&rsquo;ve found an
        authority you think might have the information, use the
        &ldquo;home page&rdquo; link on the right hand side of their page to
        check their website and see exactly what their responsibilities are.
      </li>

      <li>
        You might even contact the authority by phone or email to ask if they
        hold the kind of information you&rsquo;re after.
      </li>

      <li>
        But at the end of the day, there’s no need to worry too much about
        getting the right authority. If you get it wrong, they ought to advise
        you who to make the request to instead.
      </li>

      <li>
        If you&rsquo;ve got a tricky case, please
        <a href="<%= help_contact_path %>">contact us</a> for help. We have a
        great team of volunteer administrators who are willing to help.
      </li>

    </ul>
    </dd>
    <dt id="missing_body">
      You&rsquo;re missing the public authority that I want to request from!
      <a href="#missing_body">#</a>
    </dt>
    <dd>
      <p>
        Please <a href="<%= new_change_request_path %>">contact us</a> with the
        name of the public authority and, if you can find it, their contact email
        address for Freedom of Information requests.
      </p>

      <p>
        If you&rsquo;d like to help add a whole category of public authorities
        to the site, we&rsquo;d love to hear from you too.
      </p>
    </dd>
    <dt id="authorities">
      Why do you include some authorities that aren’t formally subject to laws
      on access to public information?
      <a href="#authorities">#</a> </dt>
    <dd>
      <p>
        As well as providing a simple way to make Freedom of Information
        requests, WhatDoTheyKnow actively campaigns for the expansion of the scope
        of Freedom of Information law to cover a wider number of public bodies.
      </p>
      <p>
        Via the site, you can make requests for information to a range of
        organisations:
      </p>
      <ul>
        <li>
          Those formally subject to the FOI Act (as set out in Schedule One
          of the Act, as amended).
        </li>
        <li>
          Those formally subject to the Environmental Information Regulations or
          EIR (a more ambiguous group which includes bodies subject to FOI, and in
          addition a wider group of bodies with some public role such as utility
          companies. Currently the legal precedent for setting out which bodies
          are subject to EIR is the judgement in the
          <a href="https://actnowtraining.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/open-the-floodgates-water-companies-subject-to-eir/">
          Fish Legal</a> case).
        </li>
        <li>
          Public bodies which voluntarily comply with the FOI Act even though
          they are not legally obliged to.
        </li>
        <li>
          Those which aren’t subject to the Act
          <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/list/foi_no">but which we
          think should be</a>, for example because they have significant public
          responsibilities. These include bodies which operate as regulators,
          make public appointments, or distribute significant amounts of public
          funds.
        </li>
      </ul>
    </dd>
    <dt id="focused">
      Why must I keep my request focused?
      <a href="#focused">#</a>
    </dt>
    <dd>
    <p>
      A Freedom of Information request is just what the name implies: a request
      for information, or data. If the authority holds the data, in most cases,
      the law obliges them to release it.
    </p>
    <p>
      You can speed up the process by making your request concise, clear and
      focused. Include nothing more than what is needed for the Information
      Officer to understand what information you are asking for.
    </p>
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