from the Secretariat

Ref No:FoI/EW/EH

10^th June 2009

Dear Ms Walton,

I am writing to you with regard to your request for information about the final cost of, and the initial budget for, the Social Security Advisory Committee consultation on The Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008.

I have established that the information you requested is not held, as no budget is created for a specific consultation exercise. Ad hoc consultation exercises form part of the SSAC's normal business, and as such, they are covered by the overall SSAC budget, which for 08/09 totalled £457,922.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote any reference number given above in any future communications.

If you are not satisfied with my handling of your request, please tell me why within two calendar months of the date of this letter. I will then arrange for someone to conduct an internal review of your request and the handling of it. Another officer, usually of a more senior grade to me, will conduct the review. This person will have taken no part in the original handling of your request. You will be advised of the reviewing officer's decision in writing.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner to look into the way your request has been handled. Please note that generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted DWP's own complaints procedure. The Commissioner can be contacted at the following address:

FoI Complaints Resolution

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Fax: 01625 524 510

Email: [email address]

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours

Gill Saunders

SSAC Secretary

By email

New Court, 48 Carey Street, London WC2A 2LS

Tel: 020 7412 1510 Fax: 020 7412 1570

Email: ssac @dwp.gsi.gov.uk Website: http://www.ssac.org.uk