Freedom (of information) fights

University spin doctors appear to be adopting a less-than-open approach to the Freedom of Information Act. One who had received a request for information from a person they suspected was a journalist planning an expose sought advice from an email discussion group. One expert said: "You have every right to ask her... what kind of article... tell her that if she's not prepared to help you, then you see no reason why you should help her."

So much for assertions by Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor, that all requests for information "will be dealt with in the same way, regardless of where they come from or why they have been asked".