DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

Our Ref: VTR 1399

6 August 2009

Ms Sheila Gibb

(request - [email address])

Dear Ms Gibb

Freedom of Information Request - VTR 1399

Thank you for your Freedom of Information review request received on 16 July 2009. You requested an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions handling of your previous FOI request “Intervention re chronic endowment shortfall(s)”.

You stated

“Taxpayers would be appalled to know the DWP was paying mortgage interest for benefit recipients until they die due to the criminal behaviour of the UK finance system/endowment sector. If there have been 1,000,000 persons claiming benefit for the period 1977 - 2007 then DWP would have been negligent if it did not seek to minimise chronic endowment shortfalls of a substantial portion of the above figure.”

I note you raise no specific points questioning the validity of the release of information or the way your previous request was handled. Upon review I find that the handling of your previous request was correct.

The points you raise are questions concerning current policy rather than relating to a request for information and this does not fall within the remit of a request for review under the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours sincerely

Central FoI Team

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, 2^nd Floor The Adelphi, 1-11, John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner's Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk