Information Rights Unit
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Mr D Allan
020 7270 5000
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
www.gov.uk/hm-treasury
30 June 2020
Dear Mr D Allan
Ref: FOI2020/19937
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your enquiry of 4 June 2020 which we have considered under the terms of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the FOI Act).
You asked for the following information:
“Why is this government allowing banks to control our money supply when it is the
business of government to control the cash for the country? Banks have never had
the right to control money?”
Although you have cited FOI in the subject line of your request, your enquiry does not fall
within the scope of the FOI Act. The FOI Act provides a right to recorded information. In
order to exercise this entitlement a request must describe the specific recorded
information sought. We believe that the terms of your enquiry do not constitute a valid
request for recorded information within the meaning of section 8(1)(c) of the FOI Act, as it
is not a request for specific content. We are therefore responding outside the Act.
To be helpful, we are providing a link to a page on the Bank of England website which you
may find useful in answering part of your enquiry;
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/knowledgebank/how-is-money-created.
If you still require further information, you may find it helpful to first consult the
Information Commissioner’s Office guidance for the public on how to make a FOI request,
which is available online at the following hyperlink;
https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/official-information/
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us. Please quote the reference
number above in any future communications.
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Unit
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/
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
If you are not happy with this reply, you can request a review by writing to HM Treasury,
Information Rights Unit, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ or by emailing us at the
address below. Any review request must be made within 40 working days of the date of
this letter.
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
It would assist our review if you set out which aspects of the reply concern you and why
you are dissatisfied.
If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you may apply directly to the
Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner will not make a
decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by HM Treasury
which is outlined above.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF (or via their website at:
https://ico.org.uk).