Mr Andrew Watson

Email: [FOI #27976 email]

Reference: FOICR 13893/10

Date: 19 February 2010

Dear Mr Watson

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your e-mail of 27 January, in which you ask for information on the recruitment of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) Independent Expert Panel. Your request has been handled as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We are now in a position to provide a full reply to your request.

I am able to disclose the information set out in the enclosed Annex.

In keeping with the Freedom of Information Act, we assume that all information can be released to the public unless it is exempt. In line with normal practice we are therefore releasing the information which you requested via the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) website.

I hope that this information meets your requirements. I would like to assure you that we have provided you with all relevant information that the Identity and Passport Service holds.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting a complaint within two months to the address below, quoting reference FOICR 13893/10.

Information Access Team

Home Office
Ground Floor, Seacole Building

2 Marsham Street

London SW1P 4DF

e-mail: [email address]

As part of any internal review the Department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you would have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours sincerely

H Reid

Parliamentary & Correspondence Management Team

ANNEX

1. The names of the people you have appointed to the Experts Group,

     to date.

After careful consideration we have decided that this information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Section 22 relates to future publication and it is our intention to publish the information that you have requested by Spring of this year.

2. The number of people who have sent you unsolicited applications

to join the Experts Group, to date.

IPS have received 24 unsolicited applications to join the Experts Group, to date. 

3. The names of the people who made successful unsolicited applications to join the Experts Group, to date.

Following consideration we have decided that this information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act on the grounds that it constitutes personal information.

There is a general public interest in disclosure of information about Government, including officials. There are the legitimate interests of accountability and transparency for the public seeking information about a public authority. However, this has to be weighed against the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of the individuals. The disclosure of names of the applicants who were unsolicited, though successful, could breach data protection principles and might cause unnecessary harm or distress.

On this occasion we have decided that the public interest lies in favour of non disclosure in accordance with Data Protection principles.

4. The number of people who did not make unsolicited applications to join the experts group, but were instead invited by the Home Office to join the Experts Group, to date.

IPS invited 2 people to a discussion on potential membership of the Experts Group.

5. The names of the people who did not make unsolicited applications to join the experts group, but have now accepted invitations by the Home Office to join the Experts Group, to date

Please see the above reply to question 1.    

Passport Adviceline: 0300 222 0000 (07.00 - 23.00 seven days a week).

Email us at [email address]. Visit our website at www.ips.gov.uk.

2

Headquarters

Parliamentary & Correspondence Management Team

8^th Floor, Globe House

89 Eccleston Square

London

SW1V 1PN

Tel (0207) 901 2426

Fax (0870) 336 9175

Email [email address]

Web www.ips.gov.uk