Dear Mr Bacon

Freedom of Information Request F2009-154

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 8 July 2009. You asked for information on project records stored in our ARIES system and for details of the information which will be published as a result of our Publishing Project Information (PPI) initiative. I will take each of your questions in turn.

1. A list of the types of information which can be stored for each project record in the ARIES database; a list of all the database fields (including fields/ questions in documents which can be attached to project records).

Please see Disclosure 1 attached which contains this information.

2. A list of the types of information for each project which will be published on DFID's website as a result of the 'Publishing Project Information' initiative (as mentioned in a DFID press release on 28 March 2009).

We are still going through internal technical approval processes regarding what information we will publish through the PPI initiative and do not, therefore, hold a finalised list as requested. You might, however, want to check our website for the December 2008 Aid Effectiveness Newsletter which outlines the sort of information we are considering.

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Making-DFIDs-Aid-more-effective/Aid-effectiveness-newsletters/Aid-effectiveness-newsletter-December-2008/ 

3. All documentation relating to discussion with or between Ministers about which information should be published on DFID's website as a part of the 'Publishing Project Information' initiative.

I confirm that we hold information relevant to this part of your request but are withholding it Section 35 (1) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In applying this exemption we have had to balance the public interest in withholding the information requested against the public interest in releasing it.

Factors in favour of disclosure include the general public interest in transparency and openness around government policy formulation and in public access to the evidence on which government bases its decisions. This helps to ensure accountability within government. There is also a clear public interest in being able to assess the quality of advice being given to Ministers

Factors against disclosure include the strong public interest in Ministers and officials having space to develop their thinking and explore possible policy options. In particular, Ministers need to be able to undertake rigorous and candid assessments of the risks applying to the issues being considered. To do this they must have full and frank advice from officials. If Ministers and officials feel inhibited from being candid with one another because of the risk of subsequent disclosure, the quality of advice and discussion will be diminished. Disclosure of the information requested is likely to inhibit this free and frank discussion and severely prejudice the policy development process. This would undermine the very strong public interest in government policy decisions being based on the fullest and most open sharing of advice and information.

We have, therefore, concluded that, in this case, the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me quoting reference F2009-154.

If you are unhappy with the service we have provided and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to Openness Unit at the address shown above or email [DFID request email]

If you do make a complaint and are not content with the outcome, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted DFID's complaints procedure. You can contact the Information Commissioner at the following address: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

John McGinn

Openness Unit

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED