BERRRef 08/0497

YourRef

Mr J. Watson

Via e-mail [mailto:[email address]]

29 August 2008

Dear Mr Watson

Freedom of Information request 08/0497 - Meetings between uk isp's and ad technologys

Thank for your e-mail of 5 August 2008 requesting “any documents or related

material regarding any meetings that have been conducted between the government and UK isp's in regard to advertising technologys and what the outcome and advice of such meetings were to each isp involved.” I should be grateful for clarification of the information required.

Does your request refer to general advertising technologies on the Internet or specifically or, for example, specifically behavioural targeted advertising?

It would be equally helpful if you would determine which internet service providers you wish to be included in the request as “UK ISPs” can be defined in a number of ways and potentially could include a very large number of companies. Added to this, I would appreciate clarification of the timescale of any meetings as this would also be helpful in targeting and focussing the search for any appropriate documents.

You will be aware that an extensive search could exceed the limit prescribed by Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This is £600, which represents the estimated cost of spending 24 hours in determining whether the Department holds the information, and locating, retrieving and extracting the information. As your letter states “government” meetings; in the event of locating appropriate documents within the scope of your request we would provide, subject to exemption, only those in the possession of this Department. Should you wish to request information you believe is held by other Departments, then you should approach those Departments separately.

Once we have received further clarification from you, we will be able to consider your request further.

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

Yours sincerely

Patrick Balchin

Business Relations

Continuation 2

Enterprise and Business Group , 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET

www.berr.gov.uk

Direct Line +44 (0)20 7215 1772 | Fax +44 (0)20 7215 5442 | Minicom +44 (0)020 7215 6740

Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000 | Email patrick.balchin@berr.gsi.gov.uk