7 December 2009

Information Management Group

Room SG 216

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Mr Mark Walker

[FOI #22779 email]

Dear Mr Walker,

Freedom of Information Request - Ref: 0955-09

I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act dated 7 November 2009.

Your request asked for the following information:

1. Which Ministers have decided "that engagement beyond standard briefings is not appropriate"?

2. When was this decision made?

3. What was the decision making process? Please supply minutes of any meetings held.

4. What were the grounds for the decision?

5. What services or "engagement" has been provided to all UK MEPs other than those representing the British National Party since the June 2009 elections?

The Foreign Secretary decided in May 2009 to update the existing, long-standing Government policy on engagement with individuals or parties of all nationalities in the European Parliament who espouse racist or extremist views. The attached letter of 4 May 2004 sets out the initial advice and the attached letter of 5 June 2009 sets out the updated guidance. The FCO does not hold any minutes or other records of meetings held on this issue.

The grounds for the decision were the conclusions of Ministers. Baroness Kinnock stated on 15 July 2009 that 'it is long-standing Government policy not to have such dealings with racist extremists such as the BNP'.

The services or engagement provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to all UK MEPs aside from the BNP since the June 2009 elections have consisted of two receptions: one hosted by Sir Kim Darroch, the UK's Permanent Representative to the EU, in Brussels on Tuesday 13 October 2009 and one hosted by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 15 July 2009.

The European Parliament provides all MEPs with the assistance and resource as set out in the European Parliament's rules of procedure, in order to allow MEPs to serve their constituents as representatives of the European Parliament.

You may re-use the Crown copyright protected material (not including the Royal Arms and other departmental or agency logos) free of charge in any format for non-commercial research, private study or internal circulation within your organisation. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and you must give the title of the source document/publication.

For any other proposed use of the material please apply for a Click-Use PSI Licence for core material from the Office of Public Sector Information:

Office of Public Sector Information,

Information Policy Team,

Kew,

Richmond,

Surrey,

TW9 4DU.

E-mail: [email address]

Website: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/about/team-information/information-policy

For further information on Crown copyright policy and licensing arrangements, see the guidance featured on the OPSI website at: www.opsi.gov.uk/advice/crown-copyright/copyright-guidance/index.htm

In keeping with the spirit and effect of the Freedom of Information Act, all information is assumed to be releasable to the public unless exempt. The information we have supplied to you may now be published on our website together with any related information that will provide a key to its wider context.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to me within 40 working days.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the FCO. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Barr

Richard Barr

Head of Information Rights Team

Encs.

2

Foreign &

Commonwealth

Office