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Children Education and Families Directorate, PO Box 118, Grays RM17 6GF

Telephone: Grays Thurrock (01375) 652652

Fax: (01375) 652792 - Minicom: (01375) 652516

Our ref: LD/FOI 1590

Date: 25 January 2010

Enquiries to: Linda Dutton

Direct dial: 01375 652242

Email: ldutton@thurrock.gov.uk

Dear Mr Gregory

Re: Freedom of Information request number 1590

Thank you for your request dated 23/01/2010 for the following information:

During 2009, the Department for Children, Schools and Families

(DCSF) claimed that two related campaigns were being conducted.

1. A campaign to vilify Graham Badman, author of a report into

home education.

2. A campaign to inundate the DCSF with Freedom of Information

requests.

Recent comments by a senior official in the DCSF suggested that

these alleged campaigns might have spread to include local

authorities.

I would like you to provide me with the following information.

First, please confirm whether or not you have observed these

alleged campaigns.

Second, please confirm whether or not you have exchanged any

correspondence with the DCSF regarding these alleged campaigns.

Finally, if you have exchanged correspondence with the DCSF on

this issue then please provide me with copies of that

correspondence.

Section 10(1) of the Freedom of Information Act requires that we process your application within 20 working days of the date we received your request, therefore we will respond to you by 20/02/2010. If we are unable to meet this deadline we will inform you of this and the reasons why.

If the information is already available to you through the Council's publication scheme we will advise you of this. We will advise you whether we hold the information you have requested and if you are able to access it. In some cases where exclusions apply we will not be able to provide you with the information you have requested. If we are unable to provide the information you request we will contact you and inform you of the reasons why. In some cases there may be a charge for the information you have requested. We will keep charges to a minimum and will inform you as soon as possible of any charges that apply.

If you are unhappy with the Council's response you can make a complaint via the Council's complaints procedures and this will be looked into. If you are not happy with this decision you may then appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Yours faithfully

Linda Dutton

Freedom of Information Coordinator

Telephone (01375) 652242

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