Does anyone know whether there is a right to have copies of the local guidance for community care grant applications or whatever it is called (the local budget information, like for which level of priority there is money available )? We asked the relevant local office and they said no.

There should be no problem with DWP providing you with this - indeed I can recall a time when I was routinely sent copies of local SF
guidance when they changed it.

S.1 Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives you access rights and DWP accept that operational guidance is within the sphere of the Act and will provide access at no charge. However, their publication scheme does not specifically list local SF guidance, but it's hard to see why on earth they would want to keep it secret.

The attached link takes you to the DWP's page on Freedom of Information Act and in their Publication scheme (which you can acess via that page) there is a named contact at The Adelphi to complain to.http://www.dwp.gov.uk/pub_scheme/index.asp

Generally, info which is not about staff, individual claimants or national security should be made available. Perhaps there's a local priority given to grants to help Tony find his WMD?