Application Protocols at MCM Division - FTRS (HC)

Dear Sir or Madam,

What are the protocols for applications to MCM Division FTRS Desk
for FTRS (HC) positions under the following cicumstances:

1. A position that has a stated closing date. What is the selection
board procedure for applications received by MCM Division FTRS desk
AFTER such a date has passed? If there is already an application
submitted before that date, are applications submitted after the
closing date allowed to be considered in direct competition with
the other application?

2. A position that is advertised as 'open'. When an application is
received by MCM Division FTRS desk and the applicant is deemed by
MCM Division FTRS Desk to fulfil the basic criteria for the
vacancy, what is the protocol that applies to applications received
thereafter?

Yours faithfully,

Huw Thomas

Dear APC-MSSp-ParlDiscl-C2 (Ms Hutchinson),

Recently I have inquired of one of the staff at the FTRS Desk at
MCM Division as to how many persons in total had applied for a
particular position ; she replied that she had been forbidden to
tell me.

Therefore would you please answer one of the following:

1. What is the reason that FTRS desk clerks are instructed not to
divulge how many applicants have applied for a position?

2. If FTRS Desk staff are NOT instructed as at para 1 above, how
many persons have applied for the position of 0190509 SO2 Ops3
(Projects), HQ Defence Training Estate, as at close of play on
Monday 8 Jun 09 (the stated closing date for applications)?

Yours sincerely,

Huw Thomas

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of British Army's
handling of my FOI request 'Application Protocols at MCM Division -
FTRS (HC)'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ap...

Simply to state that there are not sufficient resources to answer a
basic question that one does not wish to answer is insufficient and
goes as far as being contemptuous to the questioner. In fact, it
takes no more than a few seconds to obtain from the FTRS database a
reply to the question 'How many other people have applied?'

Further, your reply states that should I wish to take the matter
further, I should apply to a person at the sixth floor of the MoD,
and then gives a non-existent email address.

Yours faithfully,

Huw Thomas