Tide Tables petition

[jwalker]

I blame Maggie Thatcher, she started it all....

[havener]

Originally Posted by davidmanning

How does that equate to the DVLA selling your personal details to people like privately owned car clamping and car parking companies?

I committed a minor motoring offence in Norway. (They should have their speed limit signs in MPH, not KPH and it's not my fault if they drive on the wrong side of the road) The DVLA sold my details to a private collection agency in England who are contracted by the Norwegian government to recover fines.

I was shopped by my own government to a bunch of money grabbing Vikings.

I'm amazed they could find the data to sell!! It was probably on a CD found in Tescos...

[Neil G]

Hiya
The problem is that the statement in the petition

"Currently Her Majesty's Government is requiring payment by any who wish to use and publish this data."

is wrong, you don't, I know, I'm a publisher! Last year the rules changed so there is now no fee to pay within certain limits and anyway as others have said it was only ever commercial publishers who had to pay. Clubs etc could get dispensation. Anyway, the fees were tiny compared to any of the other publishing costs.

Not sure what the fuss is all about really as others have said a tide table isn't that expensive - and many wll be pleased to know its not a VAT able item!

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Neil G

Hiya
The problem is that the statement in the petition

"Currently Her Majesty's Government is requiring payment by any who wish to use and publish this data."

is wrong, you don't, I know, I'm a publisher! Last year the rules changed so there is now no fee to pay within certain limits and anyway as others have said it was only ever commercial publishers who had to pay. Clubs etc could get dispensation. Anyway, the fees were tiny compared to any of the other publishing costs.

Not sure what the fuss is all about really as others have said a tide table isn't that expensive - and many wll be pleased to know its not a VAT able item!

Agreed about the cost of tide tables.

But I object to information that has been gathered at the taxpayers expense and which used to be freely available for the asking, now being charged for. Stuff like basic info on companies and their directors, who owns what land, electoral rolls, etc.

The excuse that it's a 'handling' fee is poppycock. It costs them nothing for me to search their databases via the net - and anyway I've already helped to pay for the info. Information that is 'freely available' should be just that, available free, not charged for at all.

[havener]

Originally Posted by alystra

Agreed about the cost of tide tables.

But I object to information that has been gathered at the taxpayers expense and which used to be freely available for the asking, now being charged for. Stuff like basic info on companies and their directors, who owns what land, electoral rolls, etc.

The excuse that it's a 'handling' fee is poppycock. It costs them nothing for me to search their databases via the net - and anyway I've already helped to pay for the info. Information that is 'freely available' should be just that, available free, not charged for at all.

Exactly.

As a secondary issue, what about copyright / intellectual property? If I give details to the government, whether compulsory or not, where is it stated anywhere that they have the consent to then sell on for gain this information? How does this fit with data protection?

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by havener

How does this fit with data protection?

yus dem bastuds att de DLVA sowld mi deetayls too. wen i askid dem wy, thay sed itt woz becuz ov de freedum ov infawmashun akt. wen i towld dem dat mi mait de atterney jenneral ad orlreddy sed wot thay woz doin woz illegul thay sed fuk im weer maykin 9 millyon kwid a yeer owt ov dis likkul scamm

wen i sed thay waz infrinjin de yewman rites akt thay sed buggir orf orr weel av yew arrestid unnder de jeneeva convenshun orr de cair inn de commoonitty akt.

ifn yew luk uppon orl dis legul bizniss az a gaim ov tabul teniss weer orl jus de ponng pinng borls

garF