Dear Ms Davis

Subject: Internal review - Performance related pay

I am writing in response to your request for an internal review into the delay in handling your information request and to assure you that it is being dealt with as a priority.

By way of an explanation, the delay has been caused by an unusually high volume of requests for information and some legacy process issues. I am pleased to say that we have made a number of administrative changes which I hope will improve our service. In addition, replies to outstanding requests are now being progressed by a larger team and we hope to respond to all of these no later than 31 March 2009. The Information Commissioner is aware of the difficulties the unit has faced and is monitoring the changes we are implementing to improve the position.

I hope this explains why there has been an unacceptable delay in handling your request and gives some assurance that we are doing our best to improve our performance.

I would again like to apologise for the delay and to assure you that we are making every effort to manage all requests and reviews in a fair and sensible manner.

It is anticipated that we will be able to provide a full response to your request for information by 25 February 2009.

Yours sincerely

Stephen Hunt

1

2