31 March 2010

Dear Mr Breen

I am writing in response to your request for information of 9 March 2010 regarding CLG's involvement with the Quilliam Foundation. Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I can confirm that Communities and Local Government does hold some of the information that you have requested and that I am able to provide you the information.

I am enclosing copies of two pieces of correspondence between CLG and the Quilliam Foundation. These refer to the Quilliam Foundation's report “Mosques Made in Britain” and concerns about Prevent funding expressed by the Quilliam Foundation.

You also asked for a list of meeting between the Quilliam Foundation, Ministers and Civil Servants in 2009. The following meetings took place:

There were no formal minutes of these meetings.

Communities and Local Government has not funded the Quilliam Foundation.

CLG is not aware of any 2007/08 Prevent Pathfinder funding being allocated to the Quilliam Foundation by local authorities.

The majority of Prevent funding is provided to councils through the Area Based Grant to support their preventing extremism work. As ABG is a non-ring fenced general grant, authorities cannot be required to provide any additional information to central Government other than that provided in their statutory accounts, statistical returns and Whole of Government Account returns.

It is for local authorities to decide precisely how their Prevent funding is used and which individuals and organisations they work with to take forward their Prevent activities. The Government provides local authorities with guidance and advice to support them in their work.

You may wish to contact local authorities directly to see if they hold more detailed information.

Communities and Local Government as an organisation aims to be as helpful as possible in the way it deals with requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. If, however, you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled or the outcome, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter. Information about the Department's review procedures and how to apply for an internal review of your case is contained on the Department's website at: http://www.communities.gov.uk . This also explains your right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision in the event that you remain dissatisfied following the authority's review.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me at: [email address] .

Yours sincerely

Iona Thomas

Preventing Extremism Division