March 3, 2009 Archives

Gyles Brandreth has been investigating what we can and can't find out courtesy of the Freedom of Information Act .

Using FOI laws, there have been hundreds of thousands of requests for information held by public authorities. Each and every one costs taxpayers' money to investigate.

For more information on making a request for information visit The Information Commissioner's Office - the UK's independent authority on access to information.

The BBC has a blog about FOI here.

In the film, Gyles spoke to Kate Spall about the battle to get treatment for her mother, Pamela Northcott. More info here. 

Is the Freedom of Information Act working? Have you made a request for information? Would you recommend the process?

Can't see Lucy's film? Watch it here.

Lucy Siegle has been looking into car sharing clubs - they're a scheme that can take cars off the road and save you money.

Car sharing clubs operate mostly in urban areas. Club members rent a car, by the hour, that's parked on their local streets. Lucy said that if you drive less than 6,000 miles year - replacing your car with a car club membership could save you £3,500 a year.

Watch Lucy's film above.

More info at bbc.co.uk/bloom.

See also: carclubs.org.uk.

Locations of car clubs here.

Would you join a car sharing club? Should car club schemes make up a bigger part of our public transport system? Or is there still no alternative to your own car? Have your say.