Alleged Campaigns

Dear Mrs Parsons

REF NO: 1636.1

Thank you for your recent enquiry, received on 24 January 2010. I can
confirm that your enquiry is receiving attention and a response will be
provided within 20 working days following receipt of your enquiry as
allowed under the Freedom of Information Act legislation.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

Please do not hesitate to contact me direct on (01642) 729696 or email
foi@middlesbrough. gov.uk should you require any further advice or
assistance with this or any other matter.

Yours sincerely

Steph Robson
Freedom Of Information Officer

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Dear Mrs Parsons

REF NO: 1636.1.
I am writing to confirm that Middlesbrough Council has now completed its
search for the information you requested on
24 January 2010.

In your request you asked for the following information:

Dear Middlesbrough Council,
Dear sir or madam,

During 2009, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
claimed that two related campaigns were being conducted.

1. A campaign to vilify Graham Badman, author of a report into home
education.

2. A campaign to inundate the DCSF with Freedom of Information requests.

Recent comments by a senior official in the DCSF suggested that these
alleged campaigns might have spread to include local authorities.

I would like you to provide me with the following information.

First, please confirm whether or not you have observed these alleged
campaigns.

Second, please confirm whether or not you have exchanged any
correspondence with the DCSF regarding these alleged campaigns.

Finally, if you have exchanged correspondence with the DCSF on this issue
then please provide me with copies of that correspondence.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Jaki Parsons

Response: The local authority is not aware of the claims that you have
suggested were made by the DCSF during 2009 in relation to a campaign to
vilify Graham Badman and a campaign to inundate the DCSF with FOI
requests. Consequently, the authority cannot confirm whether or not it has
observed these campaigns.

You may wish to forward documentary evidence of the claims that you have
suggested were made by the DCSF if you want the authority to consider its
response against such evidence.

To date the authority has received two FOI requests related to the Badman
report on home education, which it would not consider to represent a
campaign of any sort against either itself or the DCSF.

As the authority has indicated that it was not aware of the suggested
claims by the DCSF relating to any such campaigns, it follows that the
authority has not exchanged any related correspondence with the DCSF.

You may wish to clarify whether you consider your request to be a part of
any such campaign. Depending on your response, the authority may need to
reconsider its response to your FOI request.

If you have any queries about this letter, please do not hesitate to
contact me direct on (01642) 729696 or email [Middlesbrough Council request email]
Please remember to quote the reference number shown above in any future
communications.

If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled you may ask
for an internal review. You should write to:-

Chris Davies,
Corporate Complaints Manager,
PO Box 99A,
Town Hall,
Middlesbrough,
TS1 2QQ.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for an
independent review. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: -
Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely

Steph Robson
Freedom of Information Officer

Members Office
P.O. Box 99A
Town Hall
Middlesbrough
TS1 2QQ

Tel. 01642 729696

FAX. 01642 729882
Email: [Middlesbrough Council request email]

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