Annex A

Annex A

Dear Mr Rymer

Review of Freedom of Information Request VTR 2455

Thank you for your email of 31 December 2009 asking for an internal review of our processes in responding to your request about how much money welfare to work providers have had to pay back to DWP in the last 5 years in Merseyside due to fraud.

On behalf of the Department I am sorry that we were unable to meet the statutory deadline, although we did notify you within the 20 day limit that we would be late in responding, and did respond after 23 working days.

Due to the nature of the allegations you have been making, all your requests for information are being looked at a very high level in the Department and the Senior Officer responsible for the programme wanted to check all replies which necessarily takes time and depends on the availability of this person. We also have to ensure that the information we release to you is accurate, and that it is not covered by any of the exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act. In this case, we had to ensure that the information was not exempt under sections 30 or 43, which are both subject to the public interest test. In light of these requirements, I regret we were unable to give you a final answer within the 20 day response time that we should have done.

Your second request for a review of the information provided in the response is being dealt with separately and you can expect to receive a response by February 2^nd.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, 5^th Floor The Adelphi, 1-11, John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner's Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

e-mail: [DWP request email]

Our Ref: VTR 2659

January 20^th 2010