FOI Practical Training - Level 2 (Applying the Exemptions) |
Courses take place in:
London, Manchester, Belfast & Bristol
This course can be taken on an eLearning basis
The eLearning version of this course is facilitated via a dedicated online learning platform utilising videos, supplementary documentation and self-assessment questions. To place a booking, select the 'eLearning' option from the 'Make a Booking' Button
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Public sector bodies must make daily decisions on how to respond to requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act, and how to apply the exemptions in the Act. Those decisions are increasingly reviewed and, in many cases, overturned by the Information Commissioner, the Information Tribunal and the Courts. As case law develops, public authorities need to ensure that they understand when the exemptions can be applied, and what they have to demonstrate in order to apply them correctly.
This training session considers in detail the practical application of the main FOI exemptions. Topics covered include:
- a detailed analysis of the key exemptions with reference to ICO, Tribunal and Court decisions including confidentiality, commercially sensitive information, effective conduct of public affairs, investigations, law enforcement, health and safety and legal privilege
- the personal data exemption, and its inter-relationship with the Data Protection Act
- other access regimes and application of Section 21 (Information Accessible by other Means) and Section 44 (Prohibitions)
- the duty to ‘confirm or deny’
- confidentiality, procurement and contracts including latest guidance and ICO and Tribunal decisions
- drafting robust Refusal Notices
- the appeals process and dealing with the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal
The day consists of instruction on the legal provisions with reference to latest guidance and the key ICO and Tribunal decisions. There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion and delegates are encouraged to bring queries and questions to the session, which will be fully interactive.
It is not necessary to attend FOI Level 1 in order to attend FOI Level 2, but FOI Level 2 delegates are expected to already have the basic knowledge of how FOI works in practice.
A discount is available for delegates booking both FOI Level 1 and FOI Level 2 – see below.
Attendance on this course can be used as credit towards gaining the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information. |
Course Trainer

Liz Fitzsimons, Partner Eversheds
Trainer's biography and other courses by this Trainer
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Course Information
London | Tuesday, 14 September 2021 | Manchester | Tuesday, 19 October 2021 | London | Tuesday, 16 November 2021 | Belfast | Tuesday, 30 November 2021 |
Classroom - 10.00am to 4.00pm (lunch included)
OR
eLearning - delivered via dedicated online platform
£485* + VAT (Classroom) OR £395 + VAT (eLearning)
Classroom:
- 10% discount for additional delegates for this course when booked together
- *Book Levels 1 & 2 together for £895 + VAT
eLearning:
- 20% discount for additional delegates booked together (up to 5)
- Group Licences available
Who should attend:
Freedom of Information Officers, Records Management Officers, Archivists, Data Protection Officers, Information Security Managers, Compliance Officers, Public and Private Sector Lawyers, Public Authorities‚ Legal Representatives, and others.
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Course Testimonials
“Excellent course!” Sue Connell UKAEA
“Excellent materials and knowledge of tutor.” Colette Gill Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority
“Excellent tutor – very knowledgeable, and pitched at the right level.” Theresa Pollard University of Nottingham
“Very useful.” Lance Holden HM Courts Service
“I found the eLearning course very easy to use and very informative! I liked how the videos are manageable length and the course notes were/are very useful. The Questions were also helpful as a test of knowledge/learning.” Martin Clarke East Suffolk Council
“The materials are particularly useful.” Fay Wiltshire HM Treasury
“A very good and informative day.” Craig Russell Big Lottery Fund
“Excellent.” Lynda Fay Croydon Council
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