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Amount of money spent on mental health transport (including forensics) with Prometheus Safe and Secure Limited since 01/11/2013

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Dear Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust,

Prometheus Safe and Secure Limited is a company that provides mental health transport, which includes transportation of mental patients between hospitals, hospitals and residences and hospital and prison.

I wish to know how much the Trust has spent with Prometheus Safe and Secure Limited in respect to the provision of their services from 01/11/13 to 01/06/2016.

Many thanks

Yours faithfully,

Adam Pike

Sparrow Katie,

Dear Adam,

FOI 473 - request regarding transport costs

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request we are now investigating the nature of the search and the quantity of information requested. Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act we will expect to respond to this request in 20 working days.

Please be aware there are a number of exemptions within the Act which could stop the release of information. The information will be assessed for these exemptions prior to us releasing the information to you. We will advise you if we are unable to provide the information requested and will confirm the exemption used.

In addition to this, please note that there may be a cost associated to your request in line with section 12 of the Act. If there is a cost associated with your request we will contact you and explain the cost.

In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 where multiple requests for information are received from one person or by different persons who appear to be acting in together in a single campaign the estimated cost of complying with any of the requests is to be taken to be the estimated total cost of complying with all of them. To this effect your requests for information will be dealt with under the single reference number above.

If you have any queries I would be grateful if you would contact me so that we can discuss the issues. Details of the complaints procedure will be sent to you should you wish to see them. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Team
Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 0121 612 8017
Fax: 0121 612 3779

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Sparrow Katie,

Dear Adam,

 

FOI 473 - request regarding transport costs

 

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request on the above
subject.  Unfortunately the Trust has reviewed your request and has
reached the conclusion that it is not in the public interest to disclose
the information, due to this the Trust is applying an exemption to this
information.

 

Exemption Applied: Section 43 Commercial interests

 

The information that you have requested could have an effect on the
commercial abilities of both the Trust and Prometheus Safe and Secure
Limited. In releasing the information it may have a negative impact on the
Trusts ability to obtain competitive prices and could affect the amount of
business currently provided by Prometheus Safe and Secure Limited.

 

The Trust is regarding this response as a full and complete discharge of
its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation
to this request.

 

Should you disagree with our findings or have any queries I would be
grateful if you would contact a member of the FOI Team so that we can
discuss the issues. Details of the complaints procedure will be sent to
you should you wish to see them. Please remember to quote the reference
number above in any future communications.

 

If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the Trust’s
Complaints Procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Governance Team

Tel: 0121 612 8017

Fax: 0121 612 3779

Black Country Partnership FT.

 

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Dear Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's handling of my FOI request 'Amount of money spent on mental health transport (including forensics) with Prometheus Safe and Secure Limited since 01/11/2013'.

The Trust allege that they are entitled to withhold the information pursuant to the section 43 exemption. This states as follows:

(1) Information is exempt information if it constitutes a trade secret.
(2)Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).
(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice the interests mentioned in subsection (2).

The information is not a trade secret. We also fail to see how disclosing this information could possibly prejudice the commercial interests of any person or the public authority. The public has a right to know how the Trust is spending its money, and whether that money is being spent appropriately.

Any company that contracts with the Trust is or ought to be aware that such information is available to the public upon request. Just as a company's accounts are published at Companies House. We fail to understand how the company's position could possibly be prejudiced by this information being released.

Furthermore, the Trust has a duty to negotiate the best possible price for the services it purchases. The only possible consequence we can imagine from making this information public, is that the competitor of Pronetheus Safe and Secure Limited (whom we do not represent) , may be able to offer services at a lower price. This surely benefits the Trust, and certainly does not prejudice its position.

we feel that it is worth noting that we have requested the same information from two separate Trust, and in both instances the information has been provided.

Please therefore explain how release of this information could prejudice any party.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

Yours faithfully,

Adam Pike

Sparrow Katie,

Dear Adam,

FOI 473 - request regarding transport costs

Thank you for your request to have the outcome of your recent Freedom of Information Request reviewed. I am in the process of setting the review panel with an independent decision maker to review your request and the exemption applied.

I will keep you updated on the progress of your review. If you have any queries please feel free to contact a member of the Team,

If you are not content with the outcome the review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Team
Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 0121 612 8017
Fax: 0121 612 3779

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Dear Ms Sparrow,

Ref: FOI 473 - request regarding transport costs

I write further to the above matter, and would be grateful if you are able to provide an update on any progress that has been made.

Yours sincerely,

Adam Pike

Sparrow Katie,

Dear Adam,

Re: FOI473 regarding transport costs

I can confirm that a Public Interest Test Appeal Meeting has taken place in relation to your FOI Review. A response has been drafted following this meeting and has been circulated to the group for approval as per our internal process. Once approved the response will be forwarded to yourself. I hope to have the full response sent to you by the end of this week.

Regards,

Katie

Katie Sparrow
Information Governance Manager
Tel: 0121 612 8017
Fax: 0121 612 3779
Black Country Partnership FT.

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We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Adam Pike please sign in and let everyone know.