14 December 2009

Mr G Cant

Via email ([FOI #24323 email])

Our ref: CS/09/136/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 Cant

Request for information

In your email of 6 December you asked a number of detailed questions about our databases, and gave some reasons for wanting the information.

You appear to be asking for the entire schema for our computerised complaint tracking system, and it is not practical to supply you with this. You say that providing this information would make it easier for people to request statistical information - but this is not the case. You say it would save considerable amount of time in searching data and may stop all refusals due to costing - but, as we know how our database works, I fail to see how explaining this to a requester is going to save time. Similarly, your other reasons for wanting the information do not make any sense to me.

However, you really seem to be asking this in order to obtain information we hold about you, judging by your final paragraph. You have also told me on the telephone that you believe our York office has not dealt with your subject access request under the Data Protection Act properly, because you have not received any computer records on your case.

I have spoken to staff in our York office about this, and all computer records relating to your complaint have now been sent to you by post.

In response to your telephone messages, I can confirm that your letter sent by recorded delivery has been received at the York office.

Can I also point out that I do not deal with complaints directly. The fact that my job title includes the word `Communications' does not mean that I am responsible for all communications that happen within the organisation. If you wish to make a new complaint you need to submit it to our Advice Team.

/…

That concludes my response and I hope that this brings this matter to a close. 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)