NEWS IN BRIEF

According to a recent ruling by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the government must make public the names and addresses of all organisations involved in employment tribunal cases.

This used to happen until 2001 but, following a consultation, the government decided that it would stop publishing the register because of concerns that claimants and respondents were being targeted by outside organizations offering to represent them. This new ruling under the Freedom of Information Act means the material must be released again.

The government argued that it would “prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs and was not in the public interest”, as publication would leave organisations open to direct marketing.

The Deputy Information Commissioner concluded, however, that as “Employment Tribunals are open to the public and details of cases are normally in the public domain unless there is a good reason for confidentiality. Ultimately the public interest in maintaining the exemption does not outweigh the public interest in disclosing the requested information, so the information should be disclosed”.

To view the decision notice, go to:
www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2008/fs_50080369.pdf