IF NIXON HAD JUST ERASED THOSE TAPES...:

Hacked climate e-mails and FOI (Martin Rosenbaum., 11/23/09, BBC: Open Secrets)

Several of the e-mails suggest that Professor Jones apparently had considerable unease at the requirements of the FOI Act (although I should point out that actually the material involved would be more likely to come under the Environmental Information Regulations, which lay down similar disclosure obligations).

According to one of the hacked e-mails, Professor Jones made the following remark with reference to two of his critics who want access to his data: "If they ever hear there is a Freedom of Information Act now in the UK, I think I'll delete the file rather than send to anyone."

According to another, he advised a colleague to delete e-mails relating to the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report.

And according to yet another, he wrote: "Think I've managed to persuade UEA to ignore all further FOIA requests if the people have anything to do with Climate Audit."

But perhaps it is the following extracts from this one which best conveys Professor Jones's apparent feelings of coming under siege from information requests:

"When the FOI requests began here, the FOI person said we had to abide by the requests. It took a couple of half hour sessions - one at a screen, to convince them otherwise showing them what CA [Climate Audit] was all about... I don't know who else at UEA may be getting them... We're away of requests going to others in the UK.

"The inadvertent email I sent last month has led to a Data Protection Act request sent by a certain Canadian, saying that the email maligned his scientific credibility with his peers! If he pays 10 pounds (which he hasn't yet) I am supposed to go through my emails and he can get anything I've written about him. About 2 months ago I deleted loads of emails, so have very little - if anything at all.

Everyone wants government money, but no one wants the corresponding regulations.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 24, 2009 6:46 AM