DM Sponsorship

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Cabinet Office should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Cabinet Office,

Please could I make a freedom of information request for information about sponsored articles one of which mentions the Department for International Trade, and promotes brexit in the Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
I would like to know please:
Was this article sponsored by a Cabinet Office budget or another department?
How many such sponsored articles have been budgeted for in the Daily Mail and how much budget spend is allocated for this? Are third party companies/contractors involved in creating or distributing this PR?
The article describes a 'partnership with the UK Government' and the Daily Mail - please could I see any correspondence or other documents relating to this partnership held by the Cabinet Office.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Emma L Briant

Cabinet Office FOI Team,

Our ref: FOI2021/04392

Dear Dr Emma L Briant,

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 28th
February. Your request is being handled under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 ('the Act').

The Act requires that a response must be given promptly, and in any event
within 20 working days. We will therefore aim to reply at the latest by
30th March.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of Information Team

Cabinet Office

Dr Emma L Briant

Dear Cabinet Office,

Thank you for your email. I would like to include also the Express newspaper sponsored article too please, assuming this does not take us over the FOI time limit on your research.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Emma L Briant

Cabinet Office FOI Team,

1 Attachment

Dear Dr Emma L Briant,

Please find attached our response to your recent Freedom of Information
request (reference FOI2021/04392).

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of Information Team

Cabinet Office

Dr Emma L Briant

Dear Cabinet Office,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Cabinet Office's handling of my FOI request 'DM Sponsorship'.
I would like this reviewed please because a) it doesn’t include the information on how many articles were purchased and b) because I wish to appeal the refusal of the communications- these are strongly in the public interest to release given they concern brexit communications of the government and it seems highly unlikely that literally nothing (even in redacted form ) could be released without jeopardising trade secrets or relationship with the contractor.
Many thanks,
Dr Briant

Cabinet Office FOI Team,

Dear Dr Emma L Briant,

Thank you for your request for an internal review (reference
IR2021/07533), which was prompted by our response to your request for
information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We shall endeavour to complete the internal review and respond to you
within 20 working days.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

Yours sincerely,

FOI Team

FOI Team Mailbox, Cabinet Office

Dear Dr Briant,
Thank you for your email of 29th March. I am writing to let you know that
the internal review into your FOI request (reference FOI2021/04392
and IR2021/07533) is under active consideration. However, we would like to
ask for clarification with regards to point 'a' of your request for an
internal review.
The original FOI request asked how many such sponsored articles had
been budgeted for, and how much budget had been allocated for this. Our
FOI response of 29th March provided a link to this budgetary information.
As you have identified in your request for an internal review, you would
like to know 'how many articles were purchased'. 
As the Press Partnership is a partnership and runs across campaigns, we
would like to ask for some clarification so we can process your request.
For part 'a' of your internal review request, could I please clarify: 

* Are you only concerned with articles concerning Brexit or would you
like to know how many sponsored articles were published across the
total Press Partnership? 
* What time period are you interested in?

I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Cabinet Office FOI Team

show quoted sections

Dr Emma L Briant

Dear FOI Team Mailbox,

Thank you for your response seeking clarification. Yes I would like a breakdown if possible of how many articles were purchased for each purpose, so I can get a sense of how many of the whole were purchased on Brexit/COVID etc...

As for the time period, these seem to go back a long way and I don't want to exceed your time allowance, perhaps could I have the monthly data since 1 November please? Please let me know if I need to refine further.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Emma L Briant

Cabinet Office FOI Team,

1 Attachment

Dear Dr Emma L Briant,

Please find attached our response to your request for an Internal Review
(reference IR2021/07533).

Yours sincerely,

FOI Team

Dr Emma L Briant

Dear Cabinet Office,

I note that you did not include a calculation or explanation of the costs involved in providing the information. It would be useful if you could do so, to allow me to understand how best to reframe my request and not exceed the cost limit.
As I am sure you are aware, the FOI Act states that it is "the duty of a public authority to provide advice and assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so", and the ICO consider it best practice to provide "arguments or evidence" when applying this exemption.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Emma L Briant