Finally some good news on the front of freedom of information: Prof. Colquhoun has achieved an important victory in this domain! For years now (literally!) he has been asking the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) to provide their teaching material for their infamous BSc degree in homeopathy^* under the Freedom of Information Act.

The rationale behind this request, was a reasonable public interest in knowing how tax money are spent in publicly funded institutions like UCLAN. However, UCLAN rejected the requests citing “commercial interests” in handing out their teaching material… Courts were involved; first round won by Prof. Colquhoun (March 2008); appeals were raised by UCLAN; until finally:

The Tribunal upholds the decision notice dated 30th. March, 2009, dismisses the appeal and directs that all the steps required by the Decision Notice be taken within 28 days of the date of this Decision

See the history of this case over at DC’s improbable science.

Now what’s left is a win for freedom of expression as well…

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Footnotes:

1. * this degree has been abolished as of 2008 -wise move but won’t spare them the ridicule… [↩]