Dear Mr Cusworth

Freedom of Information Requests F2009-079

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 20 March 2009. You asked for email exchanges between Eilidh Simpson, DFID Openness Unit and Stephen Latham, Head of Knowledge and Information Management from 1 July 2008 to 28 August 2008.

We have now completed our search for the information you have requested and I can confirm that we do hold relevant information. We are, however, withholding it under section 36 (b) and (c) (Effective Conduct of Public Affairs) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In applying this exemption, we have also had to balance the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosing it.

Factors in favour of disclosure include the general public interest in transparency in how government operates and in openness regarding the conduct of public officials and the performance of their duties.

Factors against disclosure include the very strong public interest in officials having space to develop their thinking, explore options and conduct DFID business through discussion and written communications. There is also a very strong public interest in ensuring that officials, particularly those in a line management chain working in different locations, can build strong and effective working relationships to help ensure the successful delivery of DFID business. To do this they must be able to have full and frank discussions which are recorded appropriately. If officials feel inhibited from being candid with one another because of the risk of subsequent disclosure, the quality of advice, discussion and decision making will be diminished, as will the effective recording of this information.

We believe that disclosure in this case will have an inhibiting effect and have, therefore, concluded that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me, quoting reference F2009-079.

If you are unhappy with the service we have provided and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to Stephen Latham, Head of Knowledge and Information Management at the address shown above or email him at [email address].

If you do make a complaint and are not content with the outcome, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted DFID's complaints procedure. You can contact the Information Commissioner at:

The Information Commissioner's Office,

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane,

Wilmslow,

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Helen Kennedy

Openness Unit

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED