Lord McDowall 
Via email: [FOI #4030 email]
 
 
14 November 2008 
 
Dear Lord McDowall, 
 
Request for Information – RFI20081249 
 
Thank you for your request of 10 November 2008 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 seeking the 
following information:  
 
I would like copies of any BBC policy which confirms that a presenter in front of a TV camera, must 
wear a red poppy. 
 
I would like specific clarification of the policy, or guidance if a guest presenter or permanent 
presenter, refuses to wear the poppy during a TV appearance. 
 
The information you requested is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the 
Act”).   
 
Your request falls outside the scope of the Act because the BBC and the other public service 
broadcasters are covered by the Act only in respect of information held for purposes “other than 
those of journalism, art or literature” (see Schedule I, Part VI of the Act). We are not therefore 
obliged to supply information held for the purposes of creating the BBC’s output or information 
that supports and is closely associated with these creative activities. Information which is not 
subject to disclosure under the Act because of Schedule I might otherwise be exempt from 
disclosure because of the application of other provisions of the Act.  
 
However, outside the Act I am happy to volunteer that the BBC does not have a policy on the 
wearing of poppies and it is down to the individual presenter to decide whether they want to 
wear a poppy or not.  The majority of presenters chose to wear a poppy and this year poppies 
were worn between 25 October and 11 November.   
 

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Kind Regards 
 
Louise Wright 
Advisor, Information Policy & Compliance 
 

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