Foreign &
 
Commonwealth
 
Office
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES SECTION: DO NOT MODIFY TEXT BELOW 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES SECTION: DO NOT MODIFY TEXT ABOVE 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 

---

  
  
 
    
 
 
 
 
Foreign &
 
Commonwealth
 
Office
20  February 2009 
 
North Africa Team 
 
Middle Esat & North Africa 
 
Directorate 
 
King Charles Street 
 
SW1A 2AH 
 
Mika Minio-Paluello 
 
Via email: [FOI #5157 email] 
 
 
 
 
Freedom Of Information Request Reference: 0076-09 
 
I am writing to confirm that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has now 
completed its search for the information which you requested on 23 January 2009. In that 
request, you asked us for: 
 
A – a list of meetings in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 held between FCO ministers or civil 
servants and Royal Dutch Shell employees that relate to Egypt and/or Libya 
B – a list of those in attendance during these meetings 
C – a list of files, memos or correspondence relating to these meetings 
 
I can confirm the Foreign and Commonwealth Office holds some information relevant to part 
A and B of your request.  A copy of that information is enclosed.   
The data you requested on the names of those in attendance during the meetings 
constitutes personal information under Section 40 of the Act, the disclosure of which would 
contravene one of the data protection principles. In such circumstances, Section 40 (2) and 
(3) of the FOIA applies.  In this case, our view is that disclosure would breach the first data 
protection principle. This states that personal data should be processed fairly and lawfully. It 
is the fairness aspect of this principle which, in our view, would be breached by disclosure. In 
such circumstances, Section 40 confers an absolute exemption on disclosure. Only the 
names of public figures have been included. 
 
With regards to Part C, you asked for a list of files, memos or correspondence relating to 
those meetings with Royal Dutch Shell.  I can confirm the FCO does not hold specific files on 
Royal Dutch Shell and are therefore unable to provide you with a list of files.  In addition, we 
do not hold a list of  memos or correspondence relating to those meetings.  It is unclear from 
the wording of Part C whether you want only a list of memos and correspondence, or 
whether you want an actual copy of the relevant memos and correspondence.  I would be 
grateful if you could clarify that aspect of the request. 
 
It may be possible to locate information relating to those meetings but this would involve a 
wider search. If you would like us to carry out a search for any relevant documents relating 
to those meeting,  please submit a new request to the Information Rights Team who process 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 

---

  
  
 
    
 
 
 
 
your new request.  Please note any information which is held is subject to assessment and 
we therefore can not guarantee an automatic release. 
 
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 an 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 not content with the outcome your complaint, 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  
 
 
On behalf of 
 
North Africa Team 
Middle East & North Africa Directorate 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 

---