19 February 2010

Dear Mr Todd

Freedom of Information Request; contract and costs of Landmark Information Group

Thank you for your e-mail message of 26 January. I am the nominated review officer for the internal review that you requested in your e-mail. This relates to your request of 30 November 2009 for information relating to contracts between DCLG and the Landmark Information Group.

In his letter of 26 January Phil Beschizza provided you with information in response to three of the requests made in your initial e-mail. However, he advised you that the Department had decided not to release copies of the contracts in question as they fell under the exemption in Section 43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act Regulations.

As the internal reviewer I am content that your request was properly handled. I am also content that the public interest exemption was correctly cited and engaged. I concur with the reasons for withholding commercially sensitive information that are set out in annex A to the letter of 26 January.

However, as you point out in your e-mail we are under a duty to release material that is not exempted. I have therefore agreed with Phil Beschizza that he will release the two contracts in question with some information redacted. As confirmed above, redacted information will include any commercially sensitive material. It will also include personal information exempted under Section 40 (2) of the FOI Act, where release would breach the Department's obligations under the Data Protection Act.

I hope you are now satisfied that the Department has properly dealt with your request for information. If in your opinion this is not the case, you may write to the Information Commissioner at:

The Office of the Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 524 700

Fax: 01625 524 510

Email: [email address]

Bill Feinstein