DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
Annex A
e-mail: freedom-of-information-re
[email address]
Our Ref: VTR 476
Date 9 April 2010
Annex A
Dear Mr Brisco
Thank you for your request received 19th February 2010 for an internal review of
the delay in responding to your Freedom of Information Request received 22nd
January 2010 for information on the “number of ESA benefit claimants with mental
health issues rejected at assessment stage compared with those with physical
ailments”
Firstly, may I take this opportunity to apologise for the delay in responding to this
request for review and I will explain this later.
I have reviewed Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)’s response time as
requested.
Your request was received by DWP on 22nd January 2010. I have spoken to the
team members who advise that a response was drafted on 5th February 2010
when, in accordance with line management procedures, it was referred for
approval. The draft response was approved for release on 15th February 2010.
However a decision was made that as the content of this request was substantially
similar to the content of your Freedom of Information request, which had been
received 18th December 2009, the response would be held back until that earlier
request had been answered. Unfortunately, this did not allow us to respond to
your request before the 20 day target. I apologise for not meeting this target.
Additionally, I accept that we could have written to you and provided an interim
response explaining the reason for delay.
In the case of your request received 18th December 2010, the 20 day target to
respond to this request was 20th January 2010. However, we did not write to Atos
Healthcare requesting a contribution to the questions you raised until 20th January
2010 and a full response was sent to you, by email on 3rd March 2010.
It is clear that you have not received a response to your requests within the
statutory timescales and I apologise for this.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference
number above.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference
number above.
DWP Central FoI Team
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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act
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
