NCTJ PUBLIC AFFAIRS SOLVED QUESTIONS
2026 EXAM SCRIPT GRADED A+
◉ What does the FOI act cover. Answer: Government departments and
local assemblies
Local authorities / councils
Health trusts, hospitals, doctors' surgeries, ambulance services
Schools, colleges, universities, academies, UCAS
Publicly-funded museums
Police, association of chief police officers
Non-departmental public bodies, committees and advisory bodies
◉ Reasons to refuse an FOI request. Answer: Vexatious / similar to
previous requests
Cost of provision exceeds 'appropriate limits' (£600 for government
departments, £450 for local authorities)
Information is exempt
◉ What does absolute exemption mean. Answer: No public interest test
attached - the information may not be disclosed under any circumstances
,◉ What is covered by absolute exemption. Answer: Information that is
accessible by other means
Court records and information relating to impending prosecution
Information that would infringe parliamentary privilege
Information which the applicant could obtain under the Data Protection
Act / where thte release would breach the data protection principles
Information held by the House of Commons / Lords whose disclosure
would prejudice the effective conduct of public affair
Information provided in confidence
Legally prohibited information (e.g. restrictions / contempt)
Anything from or relating to a list of named security bodies such as the
security service
◉ What is qualified exemption. Answer: Information which may be
disclosed if the public interest in revealing it outweighs that in keeping it
secret
◉ What is covered by qualified exemption. Answer: Information is
intended for future publication
Disclosure might limit defence of the British Isles or the effectiveness of
the armed forces
Disclosure could prejudice international or internal relations
Disclosure is likely to prejudice the UK economy
Disclosure is likely to prejudice law enforcement
,Information relating to investigations and proceedings conducted by
public authorities
Information relating to communications between the King, ministers and
other public bodies, including honours system
Trade secrets or information liable to prejudice and individual /
authority's commercial interests
◉ Which public authorities are exempt from FOI?. Answer: King and
royal household
Utility companies and Network rail (privatised) - but their regulators are
fair game e.g. Office of Rail and Road
Security Services (MI5 Mi6 & Special Forces)
BBC (for purposes of journalism, art or literature)
◉ 2009 Parliamentary expenses scandal. Answer: Daily Telegraph
published evidence of widespread abuse of the system that allowed MPs
to claim expenses for living costs.
5 former MPs and 2 Lords sentenced to prison terms
◉ How to submit an FOI request. Answer: Must be in writing
Must include your name and contact detail
The organisation has 20 working days to respond
, ◉ How to an appeal a FOI refusal. Answer: First complain to the
authority
Then go to the Information Commissioners Office
◉ FOI requests and local councils. Answer: FOI requests are mostly
concerning local issues - a study by mySociety found that 4 in 5 requests
go to local councils. However local councils are so low on money (e.g.
Birmingham declared bankruptcy in September) - Bristol council found
that 6 in 10 requests were being answered on time due in part to
'stretched resources'
◉ Other newsworthy issues re: FOIs. Answer: Calls for FOIs to extend
to private companies,
◉ Lack of transparency with FOIs. Answer: Just 41% of Freedom of
Information (FOI) requests sent to government departments and
agencies were granted in full in 2020, down from 43% the previous year.
This is the lowest figure since records began in 2005. It follows a major
investigation by openDemocracy last year, which revealed how a
secretive Cabinet Office unit called the 'Clearing House' vetted sensitive
requests for information. Judge criticised the government for a lack of
transparency.
◉ Types of local authorities in England and Wales. Answer: Two-tier
(e.g. Surrey), Unitary (e.g Isle of Wight, all Welsh authorities)
2026 EXAM SCRIPT GRADED A+
◉ What does the FOI act cover. Answer: Government departments and
local assemblies
Local authorities / councils
Health trusts, hospitals, doctors' surgeries, ambulance services
Schools, colleges, universities, academies, UCAS
Publicly-funded museums
Police, association of chief police officers
Non-departmental public bodies, committees and advisory bodies
◉ Reasons to refuse an FOI request. Answer: Vexatious / similar to
previous requests
Cost of provision exceeds 'appropriate limits' (£600 for government
departments, £450 for local authorities)
Information is exempt
◉ What does absolute exemption mean. Answer: No public interest test
attached - the information may not be disclosed under any circumstances
,◉ What is covered by absolute exemption. Answer: Information that is
accessible by other means
Court records and information relating to impending prosecution
Information that would infringe parliamentary privilege
Information which the applicant could obtain under the Data Protection
Act / where thte release would breach the data protection principles
Information held by the House of Commons / Lords whose disclosure
would prejudice the effective conduct of public affair
Information provided in confidence
Legally prohibited information (e.g. restrictions / contempt)
Anything from or relating to a list of named security bodies such as the
security service
◉ What is qualified exemption. Answer: Information which may be
disclosed if the public interest in revealing it outweighs that in keeping it
secret
◉ What is covered by qualified exemption. Answer: Information is
intended for future publication
Disclosure might limit defence of the British Isles or the effectiveness of
the armed forces
Disclosure could prejudice international or internal relations
Disclosure is likely to prejudice the UK economy
Disclosure is likely to prejudice law enforcement
,Information relating to investigations and proceedings conducted by
public authorities
Information relating to communications between the King, ministers and
other public bodies, including honours system
Trade secrets or information liable to prejudice and individual /
authority's commercial interests
◉ Which public authorities are exempt from FOI?. Answer: King and
royal household
Utility companies and Network rail (privatised) - but their regulators are
fair game e.g. Office of Rail and Road
Security Services (MI5 Mi6 & Special Forces)
BBC (for purposes of journalism, art or literature)
◉ 2009 Parliamentary expenses scandal. Answer: Daily Telegraph
published evidence of widespread abuse of the system that allowed MPs
to claim expenses for living costs.
5 former MPs and 2 Lords sentenced to prison terms
◉ How to submit an FOI request. Answer: Must be in writing
Must include your name and contact detail
The organisation has 20 working days to respond
, ◉ How to an appeal a FOI refusal. Answer: First complain to the
authority
Then go to the Information Commissioners Office
◉ FOI requests and local councils. Answer: FOI requests are mostly
concerning local issues - a study by mySociety found that 4 in 5 requests
go to local councils. However local councils are so low on money (e.g.
Birmingham declared bankruptcy in September) - Bristol council found
that 6 in 10 requests were being answered on time due in part to
'stretched resources'
◉ Other newsworthy issues re: FOIs. Answer: Calls for FOIs to extend
to private companies,
◉ Lack of transparency with FOIs. Answer: Just 41% of Freedom of
Information (FOI) requests sent to government departments and
agencies were granted in full in 2020, down from 43% the previous year.
This is the lowest figure since records began in 2005. It follows a major
investigation by openDemocracy last year, which revealed how a
secretive Cabinet Office unit called the 'Clearing House' vetted sensitive
requests for information. Judge criticised the government for a lack of
transparency.
◉ Types of local authorities in England and Wales. Answer: Two-tier
(e.g. Surrey), Unitary (e.g Isle of Wight, all Welsh authorities)
