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Request sent to Department for Children, Schools and Families by Cassidy, J on 19 May 2009.
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Request to Department for Children, Schools and Families by A Freeman. Annotated by J Webb on 6 November 2009.
Why has the word 'England' been replaced with the word 'this'?
A Freedom of Information request to Department for Children, Schools and Families by Gareth Young
The request was successful.
Gareth Young
11 November 2009
Dear Sir or Madam,
On the website of the Department of Children, Schools and Families
( http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ ) it states the following: "The purpose
of the Department for Children, Schools and Families is to make
this the best place in the world for children and young people to
grow up."
Previously this mission statement read: "The purpose of the
Department for Children, Schools and Families is to make England
the best place in the world for children and young people to grow
up." (
http://web.archive.org/web/2008061007503... )
On whose authority was the word 'England' replaced with the word
'this', and why was this change made?
Yours faithfully,
Gareth Young
Stuart A Charlesworth left an annotation (11 November 2009)
The reason for England being removed is probably because after the ratification of the Lisbon treaty we are now known as N.W. Europe. Which includes part of northern France, the land our ancient Royalty claimed as theirs.
Christopher Abbott left an annotation (11 November 2009)
How bizarre! The words "Scotland" or "Wales" would certainly not be removed from documentation in those two countries. This does seem very odd indeed. The document refers to England. "This" is simply not specific enough.
Is there some kind of anti-England thing going on at the Department for Children, Schools and Families?
Mrs Barden left an annotation (12 November 2009)
They would have to stop child trafficking children for forced adoption first, before they can make any claim to the 'best interests of the child'
Please supply all communication recorded in all formats between KCC
Chief Executive Peter Gilroy and Lord Laming CBE.
In particular please include any and all information including
email/letters 2008/2009 that relate to Haringey and the recent
'Child Protection Review'.
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/lo...
How very cosy, reading the other FOI requests this person is also a trained social worker, how the hell can he also write for the conservatives when he is the CEO of a Tory run council.
This beggars belief, probably does his own reviews into social services as well; where are the press/media on this?
Department for Children, Schools and Families
17 November 2009
Mr Young
Thank you for your email of 11 November asking why the word 'England' has
been replaced with the word 'this' on the Department's website.
You made your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. As you
are not seeking access to recorded information I have not dealt with your
request as a Freedom of Information request.
The Department's overall purpose was set out in the Children's Plan,
published in December 2007. In that document the Secretary of State made
clear that `our aim is to make this the best place in the world for our
children and young people to grow up.' The words set out on the home page
of our website are intended as a close match to the original expression,
and were adjusted as part of routine editing of the website.
Yours sincerely
Chris Foster
Public Communications Unit
[1]www.dcsf.gov.uk
Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2009/0096046.
To correspond by email with the Department for Children, Schools and
Families please contact [2][DCSF request email].
If you have any further queries why not browse our Popular Questions
website. This site has been built to allow you to quickly find the answer
to your question [3]http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/popularquestions
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References
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Stuart Parr left an annotation (17 November 2009)
What a ridiculous non-answer that is. The DCSF is an English department, it's plainly obvious that "this" meant "England" and even if the Minister that set out the mission statement didn't have a sufficient grasp of current affairs to realise that his department was an English department of the British government, it's quite sensible to paraphrase as was done originally. What else could "this" mean? The DSCF office? The DCSF website? Junction 6 of the M25? "This" is meaningless and this is not an answer to the question.
Christopher Abbott left an annotation (18 November 2009)
This is bizarre. This is very odd indeed. This doesn't make sense. The Department should have some mention of its territory somewhere on its home page - and where better than in its mission statement?
When I consider the likes of the Barnett Formula, the West Lothian Question, health apartheid, etc, I can't help thinking that there is a heavy anti-England agenda at work in the UK Government. It works against every man, woman and child resident in England.
And removing every mention of the word "England" seems a prominent part of that agenda in UK Government circles - even when it comes to departments which only cover England.
Election time soon.
Thank goodness.
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Stuart Parr left an annotation (11 November 2009)
Link to this