4 November 2009

Mr S Hardwicke Carruthers

Via email ([FOI #22581 email])

Our ref: CS/09/118/HJP

(Please quote our reference when contacting us)

If telephoning contact Hilary Pook on 020 7217 4734

or if using email send to: [email address]

Dear Mr Hardwicke Carruthers

Request for information

In your email of today's date you asked how many days, in the last five financial years, the three Local Government Ombudsmen actually worked as Local Commissioners, referring to Mr White's employment elsewhere and so on.

The three Ombudsmen work full time as Local Commissioners. Of course, Mr White left the Commission on 30 September, so his employment this year was from 1 April to 30 September.

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 (Ms)

Communications and Records Manager

LGO 01 (03/08)