FREEDOM OF INFORMATION - EXTENSION OF TIME

Dear Mr Carruthers

Thank you for your request 1 June 2009, seeking information about of all correspondence and documents relating to pre-appointment hearings by parliamentary select committees of Local Government Ombudsman appointments.

The Department holds the information you are seeking.

The FOI Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly, and in any event no later than 20 working days after receiving your request. However, when a qualified exemption applies to the information and the public interest test needs to be considered, we are permitted to extend the time for response by a reasonable period. We do, of course, aim to make all decisions within 20 working days, including in cases where we need to consider where the public interest lies in respect of a request for exempt information. Your request, however, raises complex public interest considerations which must be analysed before we can come to a decision on releasing the information.

The specific qualified exemption we are considering in relation to your request is: section 36 (effective conduct of public affairs).

In your case we need to extend our response time limit by 20 working days to give us time to assess whether the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

Therefore, we plan to let you have a response by 28 July. If there is a need for any further extension of time we will keep you informed.

Communities and Local Government as an organisation aims to be as helpful as possible in the way it deals with requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. If, however, you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled or the outcome, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter. Information about the Department's review procedures and how to apply for an internal review of your case is contained in the enclosed leaflet. This also explains your right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision in the event that you remain dissatisfied following the authority's review.

Please contact me if you have any queries about this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Yours sincerely

Vanita Patel