2019 ARAC Minutes

The request was partially successful.

Dear High Speed Two (HS2) Limited,

Please provide:

1. Any ARAC minutes for meetings that have taken place subsequent to 5th March 2019 - I understand if you do not wish to provide the minutes for meetings that have taken place within the last 3 months as they are due for future release.
2. Specific explanations of any redactions in those minutes.

Yours faithfully,

Graeme Amis

Dear High Speed Two (HS2) Limited,

Can you please acknowledge receipt of this FOI request and an explanation for any delay if you do not expect this request to be answered promptly (within 5 days).

Yours faithfully,

Graeme Amis

HS2Enquiries, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited

Dear Graeme Amis

 

Thank you for your email to HS2 Ltd, a copy of which I include below. We
are considering your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and
aim to reply as soon as possible and no later than 14 October.

 

Your reference number for the request is FOI-19-3408.

 

Kind regards,

 

Alistair.

 

Alistair Hobbs | Briefings, Correspondence and FOI Adviser | HS2 Ltd      

Tel: 08081 434 434 (Freephone number)| [1][email address]|
[2]Facebook | [3]Twitter | [4]LinkedIn

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited , Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway,
Birmingham, B4 6GA  | [5]www.gov.uk/hs2

 

Dear High Speed Two (HS2) Limited,

Please provide:

1. Any ARAC minutes for meetings that have taken place subsequent to 5th
March 2019 - I understand if you do not wish to provide the minutes for
meetings that have taken place within the last 3 months as they are due
for future release.
2. Specific explanations of any redactions in those minutes.

Yours faithfully,

Graeme Amis

 

This email is scanned and cleared by Websense. HS2 Ltd is registered in
England and Wales. Registration Number 06791686, Registered office High
Speed Two (HS2) Limited, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham, B4
6GA, England. The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and
may also be subject to legal privilege. It is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. If you are not named above as a recipient, you
must not read, copy, disclose, forward or otherwise use the information
contained in this email. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender (whose contact details are within the original email)
immediately by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments
without retaining any copies.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
3. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
4. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
5. http://www.gov.uk/hs2

Dear Alistair,

Five working days have now elapsed since I made this simple FOI request.

The ICO guidance is quite clear that “Authorities should regard the 20 working day limit as a ‘long stop’, in other words the latest possible date on which they may issue a response” and in normal circumstances, FOI requests should be addressed more promptly.

The ICO guidance may be found here: https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

A very brief and clear explanation of HS2 Ltd's responsibilities in complying with the FOI act prepared by HS2 lawyers Pinsent Masons may be found here: https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/ne...

As the guidance states:

"The obligation to respond promptly means that an authority should comply with a request as soon as is reasonably practicable," the ICO said in its new guidance. "Whilst this is linked to the obligation to respond within 20 working days, it should be treated as a separate requirement...An authority will therefore need to both respond promptly and within 20 working days in order to comply with [the FOI Act]. Authorities should regard the 20 working day limit as a ‘long stop’, in other words the latest possible date on which they may issue a response. It also follows that an authority which provides its response close to, or on, the final day of the 20 working day limit ought to be able to both account for, and justify, the length of time taken to comply with the request," it added."

With this in mind, please provide the information I have requested as soon as is reasonably practical. Please also 'account for, and justify, the length of time taken to comply' with this request, if you expect it will take more than a few days to give me a substantive reply.

Yours sincerely,

Graeme Amis

HS2Enquiries, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited



Thank you for your email to the HS2 Helpdesk.

 

In keeping with our community engagement commitments we will respond to
enquiries quickly and efficiently, with an acknowledgement within 2
working days, and responding within 20 working days if we are unable to
answer the query straight away.

 

If your enquiry is urgent and requires immediate attention please contact
the 24 hour HS2 Helpdesk directly on our freephone number 08081 434 434.

 

There is a range of information available about HS2 online at
[1]https://www.hs2.org.uk/

If you would like information about what is happening in relation to HS2
in your area you may also like to browse the following link
[2]https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/what...

 

We look forward to assisting you as soon as we can.

 

This email is scanned and cleared by Websense. HS2 Ltd is registered in
England and Wales. Registration Number 06791686, Registered office High
Speed Two (HS2) Limited, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham, B4
6GA, England. The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and
may also be subject to legal privilege. It is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. If you are not named above as a recipient, you
must not read, copy, disclose, forward or otherwise use the information
contained in this email. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender (whose contact details are within the original email)
immediately by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments
without retaining any copies.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.hs2.org.uk/
2. https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/what...

Dear High Speed Two (HS2) Limited,

Since I have had a number of FOIs go 'missing', please could you confirm that you have passed my email 25th September 2019 on to the relevant department (Alastair Hobbs/Briefings & Correspondence).

Please let me know the justification for not responding promptly (as per ICO guidance) and let me know when I can expect a substantive reply.

Yours faithfully,

Graeme Amis

HS2Enquiries, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited

Dear Graeme Amis

 

As indicated in my email of 20 September, we are considering your
information request, and do intend to provide a full response as promptly
as possible and by the date indicated at latest.

 

As I am sure you can appreciate, we receive a variety of requests and we
are unable to prioritise you above others who have also requested
information.

 

Kind regards

Alistair

Alistair Hobbs | Briefings, Correspondence and FOI Adviser | HS2 Ltd      

Tel: 08081 434 434 (Freephone number)| [1][email address]|
[2]Facebook | [3]Twitter | [4]LinkedIn

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited , Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway,
Birmingham, B4 6GA  | [5]www.gov.uk/hs2

 

------------------- Original Message

show quoted sections

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[14][FOI #603957 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[15]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[16]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

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References

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2. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
3. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
4. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
5. http://www.gov.uk/hs2
6. https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...
7. https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/ne...
8. http://www.gov.uk/hs2
9. mailto:[email
10. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
11. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
12. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
13. http://www.gov.uk/hs2
14. mailto:[FOI #603957 email]
15. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
16. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Alistair Hobbs, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited

Dear Graeme Amis

FOI-19-3408 – Extension of time required

I am writing to advise you that the time limit for responding to your
request for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000
dated and received on 16 September 2019 (below), needs to be extended.

Under Section 10(3) of the FOIA – please see
[1]https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...
for the full wording - there is provision for an authority to claim a
reasonable extension to this limit, up to an additional 20 working days,
where it needs more time to consider the public interest test.

We will send a response by 11 November. If the information is available
prior to this we will of course respond sooner.

If you are unhappy with the way the HS2 Ltd has handled your request or
with the decisions made in relation to your request you may complain
within 40 working days of the date of this letter by writing to the HS2
Ltd’s Freedom of Information team via email at [2][email address]
or by post at High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill
Queensway, Birmingham B4 6GA.

Please see below details of HS2 Ltd’s complaints procedure and your right
to complain to the Information Commissioner. If you have any queries about
this correspondence, please contact me.

Please remember to quote reference number FOI-19-3406 in any future
communication relating to this request.

Yours sincerely

Alistair

Alistair Hobbs | Briefings, Correspondence and FOI Adviser | HS2 Ltd      

Tel: 08081 434 434 (Freephone number)| [3][email address]|
[4]Facebook | [5]Twitter | [6]LinkedIn

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited , Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway,
Birmingham, B4 6GA  | [7]www.gov.uk/hs2

 

Your right to complain to HS2 Ltd and the Information Commissioner

 

You have the right to complain to HS2 Ltd within two calendar months of
the date of this letter about the way in which your request for
information was handled and/or about the decision not to disclose all or
part of the information requested.

 

Your complaint will be acknowledged and you will be advised of a target
date by which to expect a response. Initially your complaint will be
re-considered by the official who dealt with your request for information.
If, after careful consideration, that official decides that his/her
decision was correct, your complaint will automatically be referred to a
senior independent official who will conduct a further review. You will be
advised of the outcome of your complaint and if a decision is taken to
disclose information originally withheld this will be done as soon as
possible.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

 

Best wishes

Alistair

Alistair Hobbs | Briefings, Correspondence and FOI Adviser | HS2 Ltd      

Tel: 020 7944 4575 | [mobile number]| [8][email address] |
[9]Facebook | [10]Twitter | [11]LinkedIn

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited , Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway,
Birmingham, B4 6GA  | [12]www.gov.uk/hs2

 

Dear High Speed Two (HS2) Limited,

 Please provide:

 1. Any ARAC minutes for meetings that have taken place subsequent to 5th
 March 2019 - I understand if you do not wish to provide the minutes for
 meetings that have taken place within the last 3 months as they are due
 for future release.
 2. Specific explanations of any redactions in those minutes.

 Yours faithfully,

 Graeme Amis

This email is scanned and cleared by Websense. HS2 Ltd is registered in
England and Wales. Registration Number 06791686, Registered office High
Speed Two (HS2) Limited, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham, B4
6GA, England. The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and
may also be subject to legal privilege. It is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. If you are not named above as a recipient, you
must not read, copy, disclose, forward or otherwise use the information
contained in this email. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender (whose contact details are within the original email)
immediately by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments
without retaining any copies.

References

Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
5. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
6. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
7. http://www.gov.uk/hs2
8. mailto:[email address]
9. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
10. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
11. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
12. http://www.gov.uk/hs2

Dear Alistair Hobbs,

Thank you for this refusal notice which was received on the last possible day of the deadline and not promptly as per ICO guidance.

As per the guidance you provided me with, you are obliged, when issuing a refusal notice, to provide the specific exemption which is being engaged.

"Any authority claiming an extension will still be obliged to issue a refusal notice explaining which exemption applies and why within 20 working days." Point 65 https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

Please provide which exemption is being engaged, as immediately as possible, since this information should have already been provided.

Yours sincerely,

Graeme Amis

HS2Enquiries, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited

Dear Mr Amis

Please accept my apologies for not stating in my correspondence of 14
October what exemptions were being considered that required a time
extension for the response to this request.

Sections 36(2)(b) and 40(2) of the Act are being considered.

Kind regards,

Alistair

Alistair Hobbs | Briefings, Correspondence and FOI Adviser | HS2 Ltd      

Tel: 08081 434 434 (Freephone number)| [1][email address]|
[2]Facebook | [3]Twitter | [4]LinkedIn

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited , Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway,
Birmingham, B4 6GA  | [5]www.gov.uk/hs2

 

This email is scanned and cleared by Websense. HS2 Ltd is registered in
England and Wales. Registration Number 06791686, Registered office High
Speed Two (HS2) Limited, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham, B4
6GA, England. The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and
may also be subject to legal privilege. It is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. If you are not named above as a recipient, you
must not read, copy, disclose, forward or otherwise use the information
contained in this email. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender (whose contact details are within the original email)
immediately by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments
without retaining any copies.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
3. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
4. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
5. http://www.gov.uk/hs2

Dear HS2Enquiries,

This delayed response is now overdue. Please respond immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Graeme Amis

Alistair Hobbs, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited

Dear Mr Amis

 

Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to your Freedom of
Information request.

 

I would also like to reassure you that we are working as quick as possible
to provide a satisfactory response to you.

 

Thank you for your patience in the matter.

 

Kind regards

Alistair

Alistair Hobbs | Briefings, Correspondence and FOI Adviser | HS2 Ltd      

Tel: 08081 434 434 (Freephone number)| [1][email address]|
[2]Facebook | [3]Twitter | [4]LinkedIn

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited , Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway,
Birmingham, B4 6GA  | [5]www.gov.uk/hs2

 

 

This email is scanned and cleared by Websense. HS2 Ltd is registered in
England and Wales. Registration Number 06791686, Registered office High
Speed Two (HS2) Limited, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham, B4
6GA, England. The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and
may also be subject to legal privilege. It is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. If you are not named above as a recipient, you
must not read, copy, disclose, forward or otherwise use the information
contained in this email. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender (whose contact details are within the original email)
immediately by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments
without retaining any copies.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
3. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
4. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
5. http://www.gov.uk/hs2

HS2Enquiries, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited

1 Attachment

Dear Graeme Amis

With my apologies for the delay in responding, please find attached the
response to your recent Freedom of Information request (below).

Kind regards,

Alistair.

Alistair Hobbs | Briefings, Correspondence and FOI Adviser | HS2 Ltd      

Tel: 08081 434 434 (Freephone number)| [1][email address]|
[2]Facebook | [3]Twitter | [4]LinkedIn

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited , Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway,
Birmingham, B4 6GA  | [5]www.gov.uk/hs2

Dear High Speed Two (HS2) Limited,

Please provide:

1. Any ARAC minutes for meetings that have taken place subsequent to 5th
March 2019 - I understand if you do not wish to provide the minutes for
meetings that have taken place within the last 3 months as they are due
for future release.
2. Specific explanations of any redactions in those minutes.

Yours faithfully,

Graeme Amis

 

This email is scanned and cleared by Websense. HS2 Ltd is registered in
England and Wales. Registration Number 06791686, Registered office High
Speed Two (HS2) Limited, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham, B4
6GA, England. The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and
may also be subject to legal privilege. It is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. If you are not named above as a recipient, you
must not read, copy, disclose, forward or otherwise use the information
contained in this email. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender (whose contact details are within the original email)
immediately by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments
without retaining any copies.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd
3. http://www.twitter.com/hs2ltd
4. http://www.linkedin.com/company/high-spe...
5. http://www.gov.uk/hs2