I’ve tried to do so using Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader but failed. Content copying is not permitted, according to the security setting, and the Text Viewer and Snapshot icons are immobilised on Foxit. The image above is a screenshot.
Surely it’s time this nonsense was stamped on in the interests of open and accountable government.
"The Consumer Council supports the availability and re-use of government information. We are aware that its re-use is provided for by legislation (www.opsi.gov.uk) and should be done under licence/copyright arrangements." [CCNI - 28 October 2011]
The NIAO approach would also appear to be at odds with Information Commissioner Office's Model Publication Scheme's direction that information should be 'easily identified and accessed by members of the public'.
Added 01 November 2011
I sent the following email to the Belfast Office of the Information Commissioner:
"Have you tried to highlight, copy and paste from this Audit Office report?
I’ve tried to do so using Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader but failed. Content copying is not permitted, according to the security setting, and the Text Viewer and Snapshot icons are immobilised on Foxit.
Surely it’s time this nonsense was stamped on in the interests of open and accountable government.
As the Assistant Information Commissioner, do you agree that this NIAO and similar governance documents should be in a format that is user friendly and extracts can be easily taken from them? Is the NIAO approach consistent with the ICO Model Publication Scheme's direction that information should be 'easily identified and accessed by members of the public'?"
Here is the ICO reply:
Thank you for your email below. At present the ICO is reviewing its guidance on publication schemes. However our model publication scheme sets out the classes of information that we expect public authorities to routinely publish or make available. The duty at section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act in relation to publication schemes is to ‘publish’ the information. Indeed some information on a publication scheme may only be accessed by visiting the authorities’ premises following directions in the publication scheme. Whilst it is good practice for public authorities to make the classes of information available in accessible formats (indeed there may be other equality legislation which requires public authorities to provide information in formats for those with disabilities e.g. Braille.) if they make the information available, following the definition documents set out in our model publication scheme it is likely they will have complied with the duty at section 19.
However I would suggest that you contact the NIAO and ask them to supply you with the information in a format that you can utilise. Under the Freedom of Information Act an individual in making a Freedom of Information request can express a preference as to how they wish the information to be supplied and the public authority must give affect to that if it is reasonable to do so (s 11 FOIA). If the NIAO cannot supply the information in the format you prescribe you can complain to us and we can investigate if they are in breach of section 11. If you wish to make a complaint to us, you can download our complaints form at the following link:
I'm an advocate of open, accessible and accountable government. This ICO response struggles to answer my fairly simple questions. Why should a member of the public have to make a complaint before the ICO acts (IMO) in the public interest?
Added 2 November 2011
NIAO response:
"I believe, that in terms of communication, you have raised an interesting issue, which we need to address.
My understanding is that in “locking down” the pdf reports in such a way that they cannot be copied, it further enhances the security of the document and prevents unauthorised access of our website. Nevertheless, this must be counter-balanced by the needs of the wider public, and specifically the taxpayer.
In light of your request, I will contact our IT Manager later this morning with a view to releasing the report in the format you have requested. Furthermore, in the longer term, we need to establish if it will be possible to place all our forthcoming reports in this format, while retaining an appropriate level of security.
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention."
