Dear Sir or Madam,

1. Has Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC ever attended a
Common Purpose training course? If so, please list the courses they
have attended, their dates, their cost and details of who paid for
them.

2. Is Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC a Common Purpose
"graduate"?

By Common Purpose, I mean the training organisation of that name:
http://www.commonpurpose.org/home.aspx By Common Purpose
"graduate", I refer to a specific class of person who has passed
the advanced Common Purpose courses.

Yours faithfully,

John Walker

Dear Mr Walker,

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, about Common Purpose training, which was received
on 18 June 2008. We shall deal with your request as promptly as possible
and, at the latest, within 20 working days. If you have any queries
about your request please contact us at the address below.

The reference number for your request is RFI20080664.

Kind regards.

The Information Policy and Compliance Team
BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252, BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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Dear Mr Walker,

Please find attached the BBC's response to your Freedom of Information
Request.

Regards

A Chard I AdviserI BBC I Information Policy & Compliance I BBC White
City, 201 Wood Lane London, W12 7TS I

<<RFI20080664 - final response.pdf>>

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Dear Andrea Chard,

Thank you for your reply in which you say "The BBC can confirm that
Mr Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, has not attended a
Common Purpose training course during his employment at the BBC,
nor has he become a ‘Common Purpose graduate’ during this time. We
can voluntarily confirm that Mark Thompson spoke at an event for
the 10th anniversary of Common Purpose Oxfordshire in September
2007. "

This reply does not answer the questions. I realise that Mr
Thompson has served the BBC for a long period of time but this
service has not been continuous.

I therefore ask again:

1. Has Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, ever attended a
Common Purpose training course? If so, please list the courses they
have attended, their dates, their cost and details of who paid for
them. 2. Is Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, a Common
Purpose graduate?

This time please take into account any periods when Mr Thompson was
not employed by the BBC, which I believe was between 2002 and 2004.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

John Walker

Dear Mr Walker,

In response to your additional clarification I can confirm that the BBC
only holds information in terms of Section 1(1)(a)of the FOI Act for the
period that Mr Thompson has been employed with the BBC. There is no
reason for the BBC to hold information about Mr Thompson for periods
when he was not working for the BBC - therefore, we do not hold any
further information.

If you believe we are incorrect in our application of the FOI Act you
are able to request an internal review (as outlined in our response).

Regards
Andrea Chard

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Dear FOI Enquiries,

Mr Thompson is a public servant and has spent the greater part of
his working life at the BBC and having his not inconsiderable wages
paid by the BBC Licence Tax payer.

It is perfectly reasonable for the BBC Licence Tax payers to know
details of the level of qualification of BBC employees, whether
these qualifications were obtained whilst at the BBC or elsewhere.

You say "There is no reason for the BBC to hold information about
Mr Thompson for periods when he was not working for the BBC"

Yes there is. A diligent employer will keep records of the
qualifications of their employees so that management will be able
to match people with skills to the appropriate jobs and tasks.

I can't see what the problem is. If the answers are not in your
records, all you have to do is contact Mr Thompson and ask him the
questions that I have put to you.

Yours sincerely,

John Walker

Dear Mr Walker,

Regrettably I can only reiterate that we have checked the information
that the BBC holds with respect to Mr Thompson and common purpose
training and have supplied you with the information we hold. We do not
hold any further information about Mr Thompson and common purpose
training. Under the FOI Act a public authority is only obliged to
supply information which is in its possession.

Regards
Andrea Chard

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Dear FOI Enquiries,

In that case, I request an internal review before I appeal to the
Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely,

John Walker

Dear Mr Walker,

We have received your request for an internal review relating to our
decision to provide you with information held by the BBC regarding
whether Mr Mark Thompson had completed common purpose training, under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your request for an internal review
was received on 15 July 2008. We shall deal with the review as promptly
as possible and, at the latest, within 30 working days. If you have any
queries please contact us at the address below.

The reference number for your internal review is IR IR2008027.

BBC Information Policy and Compliance
Room 2252, BBC White City
201 Wood Lane,
London, W12 7TQS

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: [BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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Dear Mr Walker,

Please find attached the BBC's Internal Review Decision Notice regarding
your freedom of Information Act request concerning Mr Mark Thompson and
Common Purpose training.

<<IR2008027 - Internal Review decision.pdf>>
Yours sincerely,

BBC Information Policy and Compliance

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