Friday 18 September 2009

24 Hour Off Licences - locations released under FOI

Waltham Forest Council releases full addresses including post codes for 24Hr Off Licences.

Waltham Forest - response

Could this data be integrated into Open Street Map or a similar mapping project?

Sunday 13 September 2009

Royal Communications Petition

A good petition to sign:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to change the Freedom of Information Act so that the royal house hold and communications between the household and government are no longer exempt"

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/householdfoi/?showall=1

Saturday 12 September 2009

Public bodies shutting down their email

In March 2009 the UK Borders Agency effectively shut down their email system because they were too busy to answer enquiries.

"We regret that, due to unusually high demand for this service during recent weeks, we are currently unable to provide individual, personalised responses to new enquiries."

More recently HMRC's Child Benefit email service seems to be unavailable:

"Our email service is temporarily unavailable and your message has not been read by an advisor."

I hope this practice stops and does not become a habit. When I go to supermarkets an the store is busier than usual they open more tills - they don't close the store.

Thanks to Richard Taylor for an email he sent raising both issues that prompted me to write this blog post.

Friday 11 September 2009

HMRC release a geographic phone number

For many people it is cheaper to call a geographic phone number (it depends on your tarriff).

So Government Departments can help citizens and small businesses save money in a recession just be publishing lists of numbers.

"The geographical number for the Self Assessment/PAYE DMB 0845 366 7816 telephone
number is 01506 476 066."

"The geographical number for the Self Assessment card payments 0845 305 1000 telephone
number is 01726 209 025"

See: HMRC response

See also: saynoto0870.com

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Do your bit to get more choice for voters

If preferential voting is combined with multi-member constituencies, voters can choose between different official candidates of the same party.

This will increase voter choice and improve accountability.

Please sign the petition: voter choice

once you have done that why not register on STV Action?