Code name projects such as Victoria Sponge

The request was successful.

Dear Department for Communities and Local Government,

I found the recent revelations concerning the project to abolish the Audit Commission was code named Operation Victoria Sponge hilarious (see: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/benedi...).

Once I had recovered from my fit of laughter I contacted a source at CLG who is currently working at a senior level as well as a close colleague at national newspaper. I asked them both whether they were aware of any other clandestine projects that have been undertaken under pseudonyms or codename at CLG. I was surprised by the response I was given.

Can you please confirm whether the following code names have been used and if they relate to the projects described please?

1. Operation Jam(-jar) Roly Poly - Project to upgrade Eric Pickles' car from Toyota Prius to a Jaguar.

2. Operation Spotted Dick - Project to increase media profile of Pickles and to ensure his regular appearance on TV news, radio and in national newspapers

3. Operation Lardy Cake - Project to encourage Ministers to exercise more to help fight obesity as this has been perceived negatively by public and is a priority according to PM.

4. Operation Raspberry Tart - Project to abolish evidence based policy and encourage public confidence in decisions being made on the fly.

5. Operation fruitcake - To pass responsibility of CLG external press and media to special advisers to enable a more controlled message.

6. Operation fairy cake - Project to extend the influence and roles of CLG special advisers who have recently come under criticism internally.

7. Operation Eton mess - Project to force councils to return to weekly bin collection so that middle class homes do not need to have over flowing slop buckets in their kitchens.

8. Operation Belgian waffle - Project to minimise funding to the European Regional Development Fund.

9. Operation gooseberry fool - Project to eradicate public's perception that CLG ministers are stupid or naive at best.

10. Operation Let them eat cake - Project to appease local authorities with reduction in bureaucracy before savage spending cuts.

I sincerely hope that some of these projects were ideas generated during an over zealous awayday and were not used. Please can you supply any other codes names used with a project description.

I have previously held the work of CLG in high regard and I feel that the use of these, quite frankly childish, project names is embarrassing. Can you please supply me of the name of the minister, special advisor or senior civil servant that approved the use of the code names?

Keep having fun,

Derek Tickles

T. Morgan left an annotation ()

Very amusing, cream bun anyone?

Coo-eee chums

Wakey wakey!!!

I was hungry for a response from you my little puddings by now and I have been getting terribly excited to find out what other mischief you cheeky monkeys have been up to. But poor old Uncle Tickles is left without a morsel to sate his sweet tooth. How very very disappointing ;(

Would one of you dear sweeties please put down the buns and reply to my request?

I am aware that the request may have caused a few chortles within the depths of Eland House. My friends, I too have a sense of fun and have enjoyed a few good laughs of late following some of the hilarious material that you have recently output; but the serious part of the request relates to code-names used for projects. Please can you supply a list with descriptions?

Your in facetiousness,

Derek Tickles

PS if any CLG chums what to share any more sinister info anonymously please feel free to contact me directly (email: Derek dot tickles at gmail dot com)

Martin Harding,

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Dear Mr Tickles

Please see the attached response to your request for information of 15
October 2010.

Regards

Martin Harding
Department for Communities and Local Government
FOI Advice Team
D/06 Ashdown House
St. Leonards on sea
Tel: 0303 44 41025
 
<<101115 - F0004206 - request response.doc>>

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

Dear Department for Communities and Local Government,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Communities and Local Government's handling of my FOI request 'Code name projects such as Victoria Sponge'.

I appreciate the tone of my recent correspondence may have included an attempt at comedy (but golly gosh we all need something to smile about).

You have rejected the request stating section 14.1. Can you please explain which part of the request in your opinion is vexatious? It would be helpful if you could refer to the ICO guidance.

The very serious part of this request was about secret code names used for projects. The use of code names, such as Operation Victoria Sponge, allow you to hide information from those of us that wish to understand and challenge the decisions that you are making. If the lovely Bendict Brogan had not spilt the (jelly) beans on Victoria Sponge we may have all been ignorant about it.

Right, I am off to Greggs for Chelsea bun for lunch - and that not lie.

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

Yours in flimflam,

Derek Tickles

CLG-FOIAdvice,

Dear Mr Mr Tickles

REQUEST FOR INTERNAL REVIEW

Thank you for your email of 17th November 2010, received 18th November 2010, in which you seek a review of the response provided by Communities and Local Government to your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

The review will be considered under the Department's internal review procedures. A full re-evaluation of your request will be undertaken.

I will today allocate this request to an Internal Review Officer and you should receive a reply by 17th December 2010.

FOI Advice Team
Knowledge Management Division
Zone 2/A3, Eland House
0303 444 3973

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Robert Stagg,

1 Attachment

Hi Derek

Please see the attached response to your request for an internal review.

<<101210 FOI Internal Review .doc>>
rob

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Dear Rob,

Thank you for your delightful response and for conducting the internal review. I accept all you say and sense you are a bright and articulate gentleman. I will follow your recommendation to submit a subsequent FoI request (this time largely devoid of humour)in pursuit of the truth.

May your career at CLG, be long, interesting and fruitful. Give yourself as pay rise, you know you're worth it.

Yours simply,

Derek Tickles