04 August 2009

Climate Change and Energy Group

Tel: 020 7008 1500

E-mail: [email address]

Kelly Bornshlegel

[FOI #6608 email]

Dear Kelly Bornshlegel,

I am writing to confirm that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has now completed its search for the information you requested on 16 June 2009.  I can confirm that the FCO holds information which falls within the scope of your request. However I wish to advise you that some of the information cannot be disclosed for the reasons given below.

A copy of the information which can be enclosed is attached at Annexes 1 and 2.

Some of the information in Paragraph 3 of the document at Annex 1 is exempt under Section 27(1) of the Freedom of Information Act (prejudice to international relations) and is therefore being withheld. Some of the information in Paragraph 4 of the document at annex 1 is exempt under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act (prejudice to commercial interests) and is therefore being withheld. These are qualified exemptions.

The FCO considers that there is a general public interest in greater transparency in how Government operates and in demonstrating the methods and type of communication it conducts with other States, and with commercial organisations. Open policy making may lead to increased trust and engagement between citizens and government.

However, with regard to Section 27(1), in the course of its international relations with other states, the Government receives information on an informal and often confidential basis from a range of sources. It is in the Government's interest to maintain these relationships. We consider the release of some information relevant to your request would be likely to prejudice the UK's relationships with the State of Israel, and therefore that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

With regard to Section 43(2), the Government also receives information of a commercially sensitive nature. We consider the release of some information relevant to your request would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of BG Group, and therefore that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

The information at Annex 2 is in the form of a digest. The other paragraphs of the meeting record are not relevant to your request.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Most documents supplied by the FCO will have been produced by government officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on the arrangements for re-using Crown Copyright on the Office of Public Sector Information website at:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/advice/crown-copyright/copyright-guidance/index.htm

Information you receive which is not subject to Crown Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. You must ensure that you gain their permission before reproducing any third party (non Crown Copyright) information.

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 within 40 working days of receipt of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of 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 complaint procedure provided by the FCO. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Please contact me if you have any queries about this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Ryder Thomas

Climate Change and Energy Group

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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