24 September 2009

Mr S Hardwicke Carruthers

Via email ([FOI #17314 email])

Our ref: CS/09/088/HJP

(Please quote our reference when contacting us)

If telephoning contact Hilary Pook on 020 7217 4734

or if using email send to: h.pook@lgo.org.uk

Dear Mr Hardwicke Carruthers

Request for information

In your email of 25 August, you asked about the Commission's knowledge of Mr White's appointment at Birkbeck College.

Mr White was appointed Visiting Professor at Birkbeck College in September 2004. At its inception that appointment was unpaid. The appointment was notified to the Commission which was at all times aware of this appointment. The terms of Mr White's appointment were amended with effect from September 2006 to include payment of a stipend for research activities. Receipt of that stipend was notified to the Commission which was at all times aware of its receipt by Mr White.

You ask how many hours did Mr White commit to Birkbeck College each week. The Commission does not hold this information, as Mr White's activities on behalf of Birkbeck College were carried out by him in his own time. Those activities did not detract from, and were not inconsistent with, the discharge by Mr White of his functions as a Local Government Ombudsman and/or Deputy Chair of the Commission.

That concludes my response. If you feel I have not dealt properly with your request, you have the right to appeal and, should you wish to do so, I can supply a copy our internal complaints procedure. If you do request an internal review - can you please indicate why you are unhappy with my response. You also have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner to determine whether your request has been properly dealt with. You should note however that the Commissioner will not consider any complaint where you have not first exhausted our internal complaints process or where there has been undue delay in contacting him. You will be able to obtain further details of the Information Commissioner's role from the website on www.ico.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely

Hilary Pook

Hilary Pook

Communications and Records Manager

LGO 01 (03/08)