Date: 08 February 2010

My Ref: FOI/2010/0044/CLO

Contact: Emma Hearton

Direct dial: 01934 427390

Alison Edgley

Sent via email

Dear Ms Edgley,

Freedom of Information Act (2000) - Request for Information

I write following our acknowledgement letter, date 01 February 2010, reference FOI/2010/0044/ACK.

Further to your request, please see our response below:

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.

The council considers that it is unable to provide the level of detail you require without exceeding the appropriate limit defined by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.

This is because we are not aware of any correspondence directly related as per your request, although it is conceivable that individual officers could have corresponded in relation to exchange of related information which could touch on the topic, although to ascertain whether this is the case would involve investigating all information held by our 593 Children's Services staff, making an assessment/interpretation of relativity and co-ordinating this gathering Therefore it is estimated that the time required to locate the information requested would mean that the appropriate cost limit, as defined by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (appropriate limit and fees) regulations 2004, would be reached.

The council is therefore refusing your request under Section 12 of the FoIA (Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit).

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In line with the Freedom of Information Act (2000) and the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, the Council reserves the right to charge for disbursements, such as photocopying and postage. However, on this occasion no fee will be charged.

Please note that the Freedom of Information Act only provides you with a right of access to recorded information. Any information subject to copyright will continue to be protected by the Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1998). This includes information which is copyright of the council. Disclosure of any information by the council to you does not provide you with any rights to use or distribute the information in breach of any copyright.

North Somerset Council now considers that it has complied with your request. However, you have a right to appeal if you are dissatisfied with our response. In the first instance you should address your appeal for a review of the response or our handling of your request to the Council's Audit, Risk & Information Manager, in writing at:

Mr Peter Rooney, Audit Risk & Information Manager, The Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 1UJ.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Council's internal review, you have a further right of appeal to the Information Commissioner. You can request a review of the council's decisions by contacting:

The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Emma Hearton

FOI & DPA Support Assistant

North Somerset Council

Philip Hall

Director of Finance and Resources

Information, Communication and Technology Department

North Somerset Council

Town Hall

Weston-super-Mare

Somerset BS23 1UJ

www.n-somerset.gov.uk