DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

e-mail: [DWP request email]

Our Ref: VTR[Author ID2: at Thu Apr 9 10:15:00 2009 ]470/09

9[Author ID2: at Thu Apr 9 10:13:00 2009 ]^th[Author ID2: at Thu Apr 9 10:13:00 2009 ] [Author ID2: at Thu Apr 9 10:13:00 2009 ]March[Author ID3: at Wed Apr 8 09:15:00 2009 ]April[Author ID3: at Wed Apr 8 09:15:00 2009 ] 2009

Dear Mr Johnston[Author ID3: at Wed Apr 8 09:14:00 2009 ]

Freedom of Information Request - 470

I am writing in response to your request for information which was received on 17 March. You requested the following,

The audit results of what provision is available, throughout the country, as stated by Mel Groves in his evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, on 11 March.

The audit which Mel Groves referred to was not as you suggest one of all the Provision currently available throughout the country but an internal audit with Jobcentre Plus Districts to identify any current gaps or issues with [Author ID1: at Tue Apr 7 18:43:00 2009 ]in [Author ID1: at Tue Apr 7 18:43:00 2009 ]provision and address them.

This information is being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act. This exemption relates to the commercial interests of both the Department and our suppliers. I consider that the exemption applies because it is intended to protect the ability of the Department to obtain goods or services on the best possible commercial terms and to protect the legitimate commercial interests of our suppliers.

In applying this exemption the department has balanced the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosing the information

If you are not satisfied with my reason for not giving you the information please tell me why within two calendar months of the date of this letter. I will then arrange for someone to conduct an internal review of your request and my decision. The review will be conducted by another officer, usually of a more senior grade to myself. This person will have taken no part in my original decision. You will be advised of their decision in writing.

If you are still not content with the outcome of the internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner to look into the way your request has been handled. Please note that generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted DWP's own complaints procedure. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

FoI Complaints Resolution

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Fax: 01625 545 510

email:[email address]

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

DWP Central FoI Team