1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ
Information Rights Unit
Tel: 0207 270 4558
Justin Walker
Fax: 0207 270 4861
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
[email address]
Email: request-8737-
Ref: 9/205
[email address]
Email/17324/2009
18 March 2009
Dear Mr Walker
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST: LIVE BIRTH TRUSTS
I am writing regarding your email dated 03 March and received on 04 March 2009, in
which you asked:
“Is it true that HM Treasury keeps - what could be called - a Live Birth Trust Account for
each member of the population, for which the associated Human Being is Agent and
Prime Creditor? I would be most grateful if you would be so kind as to confirm or deny
this.”
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides individuals with a right to request
recorded information from a public authority. Broad questions and requests for
explanation as in your enquiry are not valid requests under the Act. You might find
the information Commissioner’s guidance to requestors helpful for future reference
and I attach a link for your convenience.
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/practical_ap
plication/its_public_information_foi charter_final.pdf
I can however, confirm that HM Treasury does not hold any recorded information
relevant to a “Live Birth Trust Account”. A search of our electronic records does not
identify “Live Birth Trust” as a term in general usage and can only guess at what you
might mean by it. If your enquiry is with reference to National Insurance, I can say
that the system of National Insurance Numbers is primarily used simply to record
National Insurance contributions against individuals, which determine their
entitlement to certain state benefits – as explained at the Directgov web page below.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/DG
_4015904
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. It will be helpful to us if
you remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Melanie Scoulding
Information Rights Unit
On behalf of HM Treasury
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
If you are not happy with this reply, you may request a review by writing to -
HM Treasury, Information Rights Unit, 2/S2, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ.
Email [HM Treasury request email] <mailto:[HM Treasury request email]>.
Any review request must be made within 2 months of the date of this letter. It would assist our review if you
set out which aspects of the reply concern you and why you are dissatisfied.
If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information
Commissioner for a decision. General y, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
complaints procedure provided by the Treasury. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
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