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FOI - Expenditure on equality, diversity, and inclusivity.

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Dear Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service,

I wish to make an FOI request, as set out under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please can your organisation provide in Excel CSV format, the following information:

a) The number of roles in your association (expressed in numbers of FTE), that are mainly or exclusively focussed on issues of equality, diversity, or inclusivity. For example, this could include (amongst other guises) “EDI officers” or “diversity and inclusion project managers” but would not include general HR managers.

b) Either a) the pay band of each of these roles, or b) the combined total salaries for these roles. Whichever measure is more in accordance with your data preferences.

c) In the past 12 months the number of staff days across your organisation which have been committed to attending equality training programmes, whether internally run or with external consultants. (staff days = duration of the training programme multiplied by the number of staff in attendance for the course).

d) The contractual cost of any consultants hired, in the past twelve months, to provide any external training or advice on issues of diversity, equality, or inclusivity.

e) In the past twelve months, the number of staff days committed to attending conferences relating mainly or exclusively to matters of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. (duration of conference multiplied by the number of staff in attendance).

f) The costs of attending these conferences.

g) Membership costs the organisation pays for participation in equality charters such as the Stonewall Equality Champions, or Diversity and Inclusion Workplace champions.

Please can this information be returned to me, via email, ([email address]) within 20 working days.

The most desirable csv layout would be the letter (a-g) in column A and then the information you hold in column B. If your organisation does not hold information in relation to any of the letters please file as N/A.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Bates

([Personally Identifiable Information removed])

SHQ - Shaw, Robert, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your email which was received on 12 September 2022, requesting information relating to equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will be answered as soon as possible and at the latest within 20 working days, (10 October 2022).

In the unlikely event that we are not able to respond within 20 working days we will write to you to explain why and provide an anticipated completion date.

In line with guidance published by the Information Commissioner’s Office, LFRS may make a charge for the provision of information – for example in order to cover the costs of postage (in line with the relevant postal charges) or charges for printing and copying (which will reflect photocopying charges levied by public libraries).

You will be informed if a fee is to be applied before information is to be provided.

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact the Incident Information Officer quoting the reference number given in the subject line of this acknowledgement.

Regards

Corporate Programme and Intelligence
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Email dp&[email address]

SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
Call 0800 169 1125 to book a free Home Fire Safety Check.
Visit our website: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk
Facebook: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Twitter: @LancashireFRS

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SHQ - Shaw, Robert, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Dear Sir/Madam

Freedom of Information Request

I am writing further to your email of 12 September 2022 where you requested information relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity.

Please find our decision below:

a) The number of roles in your association (expressed in numbers of FTE), that are mainly or exclusively focussed on issues of equality, diversity, or inclusivity. For example, this could include (amongst other guises) “EDI officers” or “diversity and inclusion project managers” but would not include general HR managers.

0

b) Either a) the pay band of each of these roles, or b) the combined total salaries for these roles. Whichever measure is more in accordance with your data preferences.

0

c) In the past 12 months the number of staff days across your organisation which have been committed to attending equality training programmes, whether internally run or with external consultants. (staff days = duration of the training programme multiplied by the number of staff in attendance for the course).

0 - are staff undertake a e-learning module

d) The contractual cost of any consultants hired, in the past twelve months, to provide any external training or advice on issues of diversity, equality, or inclusivity.

This information is exempt under section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please see below for further information

e) In the past twelve months, the number of staff days committed to attending conferences relating mainly or exclusively to matters of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. (Duration of conference multiplied by the number of staff in attendance).

60 days

f) The costs of attending these conferences.

£10,543.75

g) Membership costs the organisation pays for participation in equality charters such as the Stonewall Equality Champions, or Diversity and Inclusion Workplace champions.

£2,500 annual subscription for Stonewall.

Section 43 – Commercial Interests

The information in question is commercially sensitive and as such is exempt from release due to Section 43(2).

Duty to Confirm or Deny

I can confirm the information requested is held by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

Section 43(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).

Procurement – many public authorities will be involved in the purchase of goods and services and will hold a wide range of information relating to this procurement process. This can include: information provided during a tendering process about both successful and unsuccessful tenders; details of a contract with a successful company; future procurement plans; and performance information about a contractor.

In order for such information to be exempt, the public authority must show that because it is commercially sensitive, disclosure would be, or would be likely to be, prejudicial to the commercial activities of a person (an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal entity). It is then necessary to apply the public interest test.

The Prejudice Test / Public Interest test.

Factors in favour of releasing the information to serve the Public Interest:

•Provision of the information would provide an insight into the Fire and Rescue Service’s actions and enable the public to have a better understanding of the effectiveness of the emergency services, It would facilitate accountability and transparency in the spending of public money.

Factors against releasing the information:

•Release of this information into the public domain would be likely to prejudice the Authorities ability to attract future tenders and/or re-procure services, and as such would not be in the public interest.

If you are unhappy with the information you have received in relation to your request and wish to make an appeal or request a review of our decision, you should write to the Director of Strategy and Planning at the address shown below or by e-mail.

The Director of Strategy and Planning Delivery
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Fire Service HQ
Garstang Road
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 3LH

Appeals or reviews should be made within 40 working days of our response to your request being issued. Any appeals or requests for review received outside of the 40 working days will be refused. Please note this is in line with the Information Commissioner’s own working practices.

If you are not content with the outcome of your appeal or 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 Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
www.ico.gov.uk

Should you have any queries with regards to this email or require any additional information, please contact me on the details listed below
Yours faithfully
Corporate Programme and Intelligence
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Email dp&[email address]

SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
Call 0800 169 1125 to book a free Home Fire Safety Check.
Visit our website: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk
Facebook: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Twitter: @LancashireFRS

show quoted sections

GET OUT - STAY OUT - CALL THE FIRE SERVICE OUT

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