Dear [name]

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

Thank you for your email of date 4^th February 2010. Your request is being handled under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), and you will receive a response by 4^th March 2010

The FOIA does provide a number of exemptions. A qualified exemption requires that before relying on it we must consider the public interest test. If the information you have requested is covered by a qualified exemption(s) under the FOIA, the Department is allowed to take longer than 20 working days to respond. This is because in such circumstances we are required to consider the public interest issues when deciding whether or not to disclose the information requested.

If more time is needed to consider the public interest issues under a qualified exemption(s), we will write to you and inform you of the revised date you can expect to receive a response to your request.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me at the above address. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Stephen Knight

Freedom of Information Team

Wales Office | Swyddfa Cymru

Gwydyr House

Whitehall

London

SW1A 2NP

Tŷ Gwydyr

Whitehall

Llundain

SW1A 2NP

Tel/Ffôn: 020 7270 0534

Fax/Ffacs: 020 7270 6146

E-mail/E-bost: walesofficefoi@walesoffice.gsi.gov.uk