Nick Leaton
Via email at
: [FOI #24687 email] 8 January 2010
Dear Mr Leaton
Freedom of information request – RFI20091710
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”), which was
received by the BBC on 15 December 2009, in which you seek the following information:
I would like all minutes from the board of trustees relating to the BBC policy of being pro or anti
climate change.
I would like all papers submitted to the board of trustees on the same matter
I would like all emails on the matter discussing climate change to and from the board of trustees.
Any other communications on the matter.
As you may know, the BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC). It aims to get the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers.
The Trust is made up of a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and 10 Trustees, of which four Trustees are
designated as the Trustee for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The full Trust meets
once a month (except in August). The Trust also conducts much of its work in small committees that
report to the full Trust.
I can confirm that since its inception in January 2007, the Trust has not held any discussion in its
meetings or received any papers (either of the ful Trust or of the Committees) relating to “the BBC
policy of being pro or anti climate change”. Neither has it received or sent any e mails nor had any
other communications on the matter. Therefore in accordance with section 1(1) of the Act, I can
confirm that the BBC does not hold any information of relevance to your request.
For further information on Trust meeting discussions, please see copies of the Trust meeting minutes,
which
are
published
monthly
on
the
BBC
Trust
website
at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/about/how_we_operate/trust_meetings/minutes.shtml.
Please note that if the BBC did hold information that fell within the scope of this request this
information may be excluded on the grounds that it is held for the purposes of ‘journalism, art or
literature’. Part VI of Schedule I of the Act provides that information held by the BBC, and other
public service broadcasters is only covered by the Act if it is held for purposes
other than those of
journalism, art or literature. The BBC is not required by the Act to supply information held for the
purposes of creating the BBC’s output or information that supports and is closely associated with
these creative activities.
Appeal rights
If you are not satisfied with this response you have the right to an internal review by a BBC senior
manager or legal advisor. Please contact us at the address above, explaining what you would like us
to review under the Act and including your reference number. If you are not satisfied with the
internal review, you can appeal to the Information Commissioner. The contact details are: Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone 01625
545 700 or s
ee http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Yours sincerely,
C Gibson
Advisor, Information Policy and Compliance
