John Walker
[FOI #8497 email]
March 2nd, 2009
Dear Mr Walker
RFI20090366 - Freedom of Information request
Thank you for your email of February 26th requesting information about why Newsnight of
February 25th was no longer available on the iPlayer. You write:
“Please supply copies of all documents and correspondence including telephone calls and records
of verbal instructions and conversations relating to the decision to remove this program early.”
The reference number for your request is RFI20090366.
Please note that your request is outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the
Act”). It is not clear to me why the programme was taken down for technical reasons and it is
probably best for you to contact the iPlayer Help team on 03709 000 223 or via the website at
https://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/templates/bbciplayer/EmailForms/emailPage. Meanwhile you
can still find the highlights of that day’s programme on the Newsnight website at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7913403.stm
We hope you find this helpful. Your request is 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). However, on this occasion we’re happy to respond to your request. For more information
about how the Act applies to the BBC please see www.bbc.co.uk/foi. Please note that this
guidance is not intended to be a comprehensive legal interpretation of how the Act applies to the
BBC.
The BBC does not offer an internal review when the information requested is not covered by the
Act. If you disagree with our decision you can appeal to the Information Commissioner. Contact
details are: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire,
SK9 5AF telephone 01625 545 700. http://www.ico.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Stephanie Harris
Head of Editorial Compliance
BBC News
