Dear Mr Thackery

Thank you for your e-mail of 9 February, in which you asked whether a redefined Freedom of Information request covering only specific courts would be within the cost limit of the Act.

Unfortunately, I am unable to provide such an assurance. This is because every request is considered on its merits, and one of these is the cost limit.

I provided some suggestions in my previous response as to possible ways you could narrow the scope of your request in order to try to bring it within the cost limit, although no assessment is made by HMCS whether such suggestions would fall within the cost limit.

However, it is possible that if you submitted a redefined request covering specific courts may prove to be in excess of the cost limit and be refused. If we refused a redefined request on cost grounds we would inform you of this, and try and provide further suggestions as to how you may narrow the request further.

I am sorry that I have not been able to be of more assistance on this occasion.

Yours sincerely

Lance Holden

HMCS Fraud & Information Security Unit

Page 2