Mr Graeme Breen

(by email)

10 May 2010

Dear Mr Breen,

Freedom of Information request regarding FCO involvement with the Quilliam Foundation and the Projecting British Islam/Muslims Programme, reference 0238-10

I refer to your request for the release of the following information held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) under the Freedom of Information Act 2001 (FOIA), which was received on 9 March 2010:

I can confirm that we hold the information relevant to your request. Please see below for the answers to your questions.

The purpose of FCO funding for the visits is to provide a platform for British Muslims to challenge misconceptions overseas about the reality of life for Muslims in Britain, by showcasing the integral role Muslims play in British society. This challenges the notion that the UK and the West is engaged in a `War against Islam'. The programme strengthens partnerships between British Muslims and communities overseas leading to grassroots follow-up initiatives.

Annex B contains a list of all foreign trips which have been carried out as part of the Projecting British Islam/Muslims programme. We have withheld information under Section 40(Personal Information). Some of the withheld information is personal data relating to third parties. It is our view that disclosure of this information would breach the first data protection principle, which states that personal data should be processed fairly and lawfully. Section 40(2) and (3) of the FOIA therefore apply. It is the fairness aspect of this principle which we think would be breached by disclosure in this case. In such circumstances section 40 confers an absolute exemption on disclosure and the public interest test does not apply. In this case the names of officials and delegates have been removed.

Annex C contains internal FCO reports on trips conducted in this period. You also requested news reports such as those created by British Satellite News and other FCO publicity ventures. We are exempting this under Section 21 (information available by other means) as it is all in the public domain. Additionally, we are exempting certain information contained within the internal reports under Section 27 (international relations). Section 27 (1)(a) states that information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would or would be likely to prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and any other state. The application of section 27(1)(a) requires us to consider the public interest test arguments in favour of releasing and withholding the information.

We believe that it is in the public interest to be transparent about the UK's relationship with overseas Governments. However, section 27 recognises that the effective conduct of international relations depends upon maintaining trust and confidence between governments. If the United Kingdom does not maintain this trust and confidence, its ability to influence these governments and thereby to protect and promote UK interests will be hampered, which would not be in the public interest. For these reasons we consider that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

A detailed breakdown of FCO funding for this project has been exempted under the following Acts:

Section 38(1)(b) (Health and Safety)

Whilst we recognise that the release of this information would provide the public with greater insight into the operational details of the Quilliam Foundation's international projects, we also have a duty of care to those individuals involved in the delivery of this work. We believe that the release of any information regarding operational and logistical details poses a direct threat to the safety of these individuals. Section 38(1)(b) allows for information to be exempt if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, endanger the safety of any individual. It is for this reason that the public interest test in withholding the information outweighs its release.

Section 41 (Information provided in confidence)

The FCO has a duty of confidence to the organisation concerned who would legally be able to take action against the FCO for any breach of confidence in this regard. Section 41 also confers an absolute exemption on disclosure, and therefore a public interest test is not required.

No Quilliam activities were carried out in Syria in 2009. 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to the Information Rights Team. Please note any request for an internal review must be submitted within 40 working days from the date our response was issued.

If you are make a complaint and are not content with the outcome, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely,

Lucy Hughes

Head, Prevent Team, CTD

Counter Terrorism Department

K.155, FCO Main Building

King Charles Street

London, SW1A 2AH

Tel: 020 7008 4283

Fax: 020 7008 3379

www.fco.gov.uk