31 December 2009
Mr Julian Todd
Our Ref:
F0003489
Dear Mr Todd,
Freedom of Information Act 2000 Thank you for your request of 30 November 2009, seeking the information listed
below. Your request was forwarded to me on 1 December 2009.
a. copies of all contracts and service agreements between the DCLG and
Landmark Information Group relating to these databases.
b. detailed costs to the government for these contracts.
c. the revenue raised by the Landmark from fees made possible by this
government concession.
d. details of any added costs for serving this contract caused by changes due to
SI1900(2009).
The Department holds the information you are seeking.
The FOI Act obliges us to respond promptly to requests and, in any event, no later
than 20 working days after receiving your request. However, when a qualified
exemption applies to the information and the public interest test needs to be
considered, we are permitted to extend the time for response by a reasonable period.
We do, of course, aim to make all decisions within 20 working days, including in
cases where we need to consider where the public interest lies in respect of a
request for exempt information. Your request, however, raises complex public
interest considerations which must be analysed before we can come to a decision on
releasing the information.
The specific qualified exemption(s) we are considering in relation to your request is
under Section 43 – Commercial Interests.
Department for Communities and Local Government
Tel: 0303 444 1836
Zone 5/H9, Eland House
Email e-mail:
Bressenden Place
[email address]
Victoria
London
SW1E 5DU
In your case we need to extend our response time limit by 20 working days to give us
time to assess whether the public interest in withholding the information outweighs
the public interest in disclosing it.
Therefore, we plan to let you have a response by 29 January 2010. If there is a need
for any further extension of time we will keep you informed.
The information requested at b. c. & d. can be provided and is as follows;
b. Other than CLG internal administrative staff costs there was no cost to the
Government. The contract was awarded through a competitive tendering
process.
c. The fees raised through the lodgement fee can be calculated by multiplying
the publically available lodgement figures on the National Register website
(
www.epcregister.com) by the lodgement fee. Details of the lodgement fees
can be found in SI 2008 No. 647, The Energy Performance of Buildings
(Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations
2008, Regulation 32 - fees for entering onto register
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20080647_en.pdf
d. There have been no added costs for serving this contract caused by changes
due to SI1900 (2009). The lodgement fees for the Domestic and Non-
Domestic Registers, as specified in the Regulations, have not been increased.
Communities and Local Government as an organisation aims to be as helpful as
possible in the way it deals with requests for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. If,
however, you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled
or the outcome, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of
the date of this letter. Information about the Department's review procedures and how
to apply for an internal review of your case is contained in the enclosed leaflet. This
also explains your right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision in the event that you remain dissatisfied following the authority's review
Please contact me if you have any queries about this letter.
Yours sincerely,
Phil Beschizza
