Access System

Dear Mr Leaton

Thank you for your request for information dated 23rd July received by us on the same day, which is copied below.

We will endeavour to respond to your request promptly but in any case within 20 working days i.e. on or before 20th August.

If you have any queries about your request, please use the request number quoted in the subject line of this email.

Yours sincerely

Victoria Carpenter
Freedom of Information Assistant

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Leaton

Thank you for your request for information which is copied below.

We can confirm that the information requested is held by the House of Commons.

Response

1. Daily: the data is backed up on a second server located in another building on the Parliamentary Estate.
Monthly: duplicate data is transported securely to a protected location offsite.

2 The data retention policy is three years, based on business need. This means that when a pass has not been active for three years, the data related to that pass record is deleted as part of the bulk deletion of records process. The documented procedure for this process is attached. Similarly, data relating to active use will fall due for deletion after three years (please note the system has been running for less than three years). I will write to you separately about the retention period for this data.

While the system processes are documented these plans etc contain detailed explanations of the House's security systems and procedures. It is important that the security of this information is maintained and your request is refused.

A principle of the FOIA is that release of information should not be regarded as just being to the requestor, but is to the public at large. The knowledge that information had been released which compromises this security could adversely affect confidence in the ability of Parliament to continue to function. In addition release of the requested documents would provide sufficient information for a third party to disrupt the work of the House of Commons and Parliament and endanger the security, health and safety of those on or near the Estate.

Therefore the House considers that the exemption set out in section 24(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is required in this case for the purpose of safeguarding national security. The risk that releasing this information could assist breaches of security and or compromise the security and safety of individuals considerably outweigh the public interest in providing the information.

3. The advertisement was published as part of the original procurement through the OJEU process is attached.

The invitation to tender provided to potential bidders contains specific details of our security arrangements and therefore, for the reasons set out in part 2 of this response, the exemption set out in section 24(1) of the FOIA act applies and therefore access to this document is refused.

You may, if dissatisfied with the treatment of your request, ask the House of Commons to conduct an internal review of this decision. Requests for internal review should be addressed to: Freedom of Information Officer, Department of Resources, House of Commons London SW1 OAA or [House of Commons request email]. Please ensure that you specify the nature of your complaint and any arguments or points that you wish to make.

If you remain dissatisfied, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Bob Castle
Head of Information Rights and Information Security
House of Commons

show quoted sections