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9 April 2010

Overseas Security Team

Room SG/160

OAB Building

London SW1A 2AP

Tel: 020 7008 8783

E-mail: [email address]

Mr Steve Elibank

By e-mail: [FOI #30490 email]

Dear Mr Elibank,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 0239-10

Thank you for your request for information, received by email on 10 March about the total cost of security, in a number of our overseas missions during the year of 2006.

The FOI Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly and in any case no later than 20 working days after receiving your request. However, when a qualified exemption is engaged and the public interest test is being considered, the Act allows the time for response to be longer than 20 working days, and a full response must be provided within such time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case. We do, of course, aim to make all decisions within 20 working days, including in cases where we need to consider where the public interest lies in respect of a request.  In this case, however, we have not yet reached a decision on where the balance of the public interest test lies. 

In your case we estimate that it will take an additional 15 working days to take a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies. Therefore, we plan to let you have a response by 30 April 2010 2008. It if appears that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we will keep you informed. 

The specific exemptions which are engaged in relation to your request are: 24 (National Security), and 38 (Health & safety)

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

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 me at the above address. You have 40 working days to do so.

If you are not content with the outcome of that internal review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaint 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

Carol Wright

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