Information Access Team

Shared Services Directorate

2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Switchboard 020 7035 4848 Fax: 020 7035 4745 Textphone: 020 7035 xxxx

E-mail: Info.Access@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Phillip Main 03 July 2009

[FOI #12875 email]

Ref: 12111

Dear Mr Main

I am writing further to my correspondence of 10^th June 2009 regarding your information request dated 10^th June 2009, in which you ask for copies of correspondence between the Home Office and the Prime Ministers Office relating to Phorm/Media121.

We are considering your information request. The Freedom of Information Act provides exemptions which may be used in specified circumstances. Some of these exemptions are subject to a public interest test. These exemptions are known as qualified exemptions. The public interest test is used to balance the public interest in openness against the public interest in favour of upholding the exemption. Section 10(3) of the Act allows us to exceed the 20 working day response target where reasonably necessary to consider the public interest test fully. This is subject to us telling applicants when we expect to conclude our deliberations and provide a full response.

We are considering the exemption contained within section 35 (3) of the Act. This is a qualified exemption relating to the formulation of government policy, in relation to which we are considering the public interest in saying whether or not we hold relevant information.

In order to consider whether the public interest falls in favour of applying the exemption, we need to extend the 20 working day response period, and now aim to respond by 31^st July 2009.

Should you have any queries about the handling of your information request then please do not hesitate to contact me.

This response should not be taken as conclusive evidence that the information you have requested exists or does not exist.

Yours sincerely

Diana Pottinger

Information Access Consultant