FOI Request- Tricky Questions Course

Ref: 10/0075

Thank you for your email of 15 January 2010 where you requested information about the Tricky Questions training course.

1. The course is aimed at improving individuals' skills in public and stakeholder engagement. It does this through analysis of communication and active listening, teaching participants to build on their strengths. The course is split into an interview scenario followed by some role playing.

The department does not hold a training syllabus as such; however we do hold slightly more detail in a document which contains a brief `course outline'. This information is exempt under sections 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as it is considered that disclosure of this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of the course provider and is therefore being withheld. Section 43 is subject to a public interest test. Whilst we recognise that there is a general public interest in the disclosure of information, as greater transparency makes Government more accountable, there is against this a public interest in ensuring that the commercial interests of external businesses are not damaged or undermined by disclosure of information which is not common knowledge and which could adversely impact on future business. The course content has been developed over time and provides a competitive advantage in the way in which the course is delivered and which the course provider has said will be used in future business. Therefore, we are aware that releasing these ideas publicly could offer commercial advantage to other parties.

2. The course is provided by the company Alexander Ballard; details as below:

- Address is 4 Kennet House, 19 High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 ONL. Telephone: +44 (0) 1488 686286.

3. The courses first started on the 30th January 2009.

4. Section 40 of the FOI Act provides an absolute exemption for personal data when certain conditions are met; this is then dealt with under the Data Protection Act. Personal data of third parties can only be disclosed in accordance with the data protection principles. In particular, the first data protection principle requires that disclosure must be fair and lawful and must comply with one of the conditions in Schedule 2 of the Data Protection Act. We do not think that it is fair to release the names of staff who attended the course and do not think that any of the relevant conditions apply.

The total number of attendees since the course began is 44. The ranks of the attendees are: Executive Officers, Higher Executive Officers, Senior Executive Officers, Grade 6, Grade 7 and Grade 5.

5. The total costs of these courses add up to £24,985.36. This is made up of payments to the course provider (£22,898.91 incl. VAT) together with expenses and internal room bookings (£2,086.45). The money came out of Better Regulation Executive accounts. All relevant invoices are attached. Please be advised that the training providers account details have been removed from their invoices at the request of the training provider. The names of junior members of staff appearing on invoices have been removed under s40 of the FOI Act for the same reasons as stated above in answer to question 4. No other information has been removed.

Appeal procedure

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to the department.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely,

The Better Regulation Executive