A list of questions about gold.

John Biers made this Freedom of Information request to Bank of England

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Bank of England should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

From: John Biers

9 November 2011

Dear Bank of England,

Please see a new list FOI questions below:

1. Which of the following is how gold swaps work:

a. The Bank of England swaps gold for gold? If this occurs what
gold is included on the balance sheet as part of EEA reserves? (the
gold lent out, the incoming gold or both). What is the purpose of
this transaction?

b. The Bank of England swaps gold for something else (for example
money). If this occurs then is the gold included on the balance
sheet as part of EEA reserves?

c. The Bank of England swaps something (for example money) for
Gold. If this occurs then is the gold included on the balance sheet
as part of EEA reserves?

d. Any combination of a,b and c.

2. How much physical gold did the bank hold on behalf of the UK
Government, as at 01/01/2011, excluding gold swapped or on loan?

3. How much physical gold did the bank hold on behalf of the UK
Government, as at 01/01/2010, excluding gold swapped or on loan?

4. How much physical gold did the bank hold on behalf of the UK
Government, as at 01/01/2000, excluding gold swapped or on loan?

5. How much physical gold did the bank hold on behalf of the UK
Government, as at 01/01/1990, excluding gold swapped or on loan?

6. How much physical gold did the bank hold on behalf of the UK
Government, as at 01/01/1980, excluding gold swapped or on loan?

7. Can the bank please confirm if when you indicate that
disclosure, in relation to the question on gold loans and swaps,
“would be likely to prejudice the UK Government's financial
interests” that this applies to the gold transaction in question?
Or could this apply to any other area of government activity (for
example the government bond market)? Could you please specify which
area of government activity the exemption under section 29(1)(b) of
the Fol Act applies to?

8. How can I enter into a gold swap transaction with the Bank of
England?

9. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan transactions
with any current or former member of staff?

10. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with any entity with any former member of staff on the
board or as a director?

11. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with the republic of Iran?

12. Can the bank confirm the existence of gold swaps?

13. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with the former UK Prime Minster Tony Blair?

14. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with Mervin king, in a personal capacity?

15. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with Germany?

16. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with the Federal Reserve?

17. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with RBS?

18. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with Lloyd's Banking Group?

19. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with HSBC?

20. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with any bank controlled by UKFI?

21. Can the bank confirm there are no gold swap or loan
transactions with Homer Simpson, from the cartoon The Simpsons?

Yours faithfully,

John Biers

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From: Keating, Jackie
Bank of England

10 November 2011

Jackie Keating
Public Information and Enquiries Group | PCID | HO-M (D-C) | x5254

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From: Enquiries
Bank of England

11 November 2011

Dear Mr Beirs

We acknowledge receipt of your email dated 9 November (our ref FF 26106). We will reply in due course.

If you have any queries please contact the Bank's Public Information and Enquiries Group on 020 7601 4878.

Yours sincerely

Public Information and Enquiries Group
Bank of England | Threadneedle Street | London | EC2R 8AH | +44 20 7601 4878
[Bank of England request email]

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From: John Biers

9 December 2011

Dear Enquiries,

I would like to remind you to reply to my request for information,
you have not done so promptly, as normally required by law.
Many thanks

Yours sincerely,
John Biers

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