DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
e-mail
: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
Our Ref: FOI2019/27559
19 September 2019
Dear John Slater,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FoI) request received on 23 July. Please accept
my apologies for the delay in response.
You asked:
I understand that the department introduced ‘authority independent audit (AIA)’ into Personal
Independence Payment contracts in 2016.
I assume this means that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions entered into a contract
with an external organisation (i.e. authority independent) to carry out the auditing of PIP
assessment report across the 3 contracts.
I remind the department of its obligations under section 16 FOIA. Therefore, if my assumption
is incorrect the department should provide me with sufficient information to allow me to
clarify/revise my request.
RFI1: Please disclose the name of the organisation carrying out the “authority independent
audit” function.
RFI2: Please disclose the contract entered into with the organisation carrying out the “authority
independent audit” function. Please note that this request excludes any personal information
that would fall under section 40(2) FOIA. The department would need to justify any other
redactions by relying on relevant statutory exemptions.
DWP Response:
In response to your first question the Independent Audit is conducted by the Department and is
one of the tools to measure quality for performance management purposes.
In response to your second question I have established that the information you requested is
not held by the Department. You should note that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act only
applies to information held by DWP on the date of the request. It does not require us to create
information.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me quoting the reference number
above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central FoI Team
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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailin
g freedom-of-information-
xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA.
Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information
Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have
exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
We
b: ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us or telephone 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745
