Dear Graeme Bickerdike

Thank you for your request relating to All correspondence/documentation
exchanged between National Highways and Jacobs/AMCO-Giffen reltin to
Queensbury Tunnel dated 04/01/2022. 

The due date for issuing a response is 02/02/2022.

Please feel free to contact our team if you have any queries quoting
FOI/3032 in any future communications

Kind regards

Andrea Bartlett

You can make new FOI requests and review published responses by
visiting [1]https://foiform.highwaysengland.co.uk/

References

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1. https://foiform.highwaysengland.co.uk/

Dear Mr Bickerdike

Freedom of Information Request – Queensbury Tunnel

I am writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information,

which you requested on 5^th January 2022.

Your Request - Please provide me with copies of all
correspondence/documentation exchanged between National Highways and
Jacobs/AMCO-Giffen, and internally amongst National Highways’ own staff,
on the subject of Queensbury Tunnel (and related issues) since 26 October
2021. This should include - but is not limited to - all emails/electronic
messages plus attachments, letters, proposals, reports, drawings, plans
and Compensation Event Forms after CE0055, together with any
changes/additions to the abandonment project’s Compensation Event and
Risk/Early Warning registers.

Our Response – Some of the information that you requested is attached.
Please note that redactions have been made under Regulation 13 of the
Environmental Information Regulations for personal information.

We hold records of communications on the subject of Queensbury Tunnel. 
However, we find that these records engage the EIR exception 12(4)(e)
which relate to communications between parties within the same
organisation.

After conducting the public interest test on the arguments for and against
disclosure of such correspondence, we have concluded that the public
interest lies in withholding that information.  Therefore, we are applying
EIR 12(4)(e) to except the information from disclosure and we will not be
providing it.

Other information has been withheld under EIR 12(5)(b).  This may be
applied to information whose disclosure is likely to prejudice the course
of justice.  The “course of justice” includes legal proceedings, law
enforcement, criminal investigations and proceedings.

After conducting the public interest test on the arguments for and against
disclosure of such information, we have concluded that the public interest
lies in withholding that information.  Therefore, we are applying EIR
12(4)(e) to except the information from disclosure and we will not be
providing it.

Public interest arguments for withholding the internal communications by
applying the exception EIR 12(4)(e):

* There is a public interest in protecting the “private thinking space”
for deliberations and discussions within an authority before
decisions, plans or policy is finalised
* There is a public interest in preventing the chilling effect that
public disclosure of internal communications would have on the
communication and discussion of frank and candid views and opinions
early on in the Authority’s deliberations on a matter 

Public interest arguments for withholding the information which may cause
prejudice to the course of justice by applying the exception EIR 12(5)(b):

* There is a public interest in safeguarding openness in all
communications between client and lawyer to ensure access to full and
frank legal advice.
* There is a public interest in protecting confidence in the general
principle of Legal Professional Privilege

If you are not satisfied with your response you may ask for an internal
review within 40 working days of receiving the response, by replying to
this email. You can learn more about the internal review process [1]here.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
[2][email address]

            Information Commissioner’s Office

            Wycliffe House

            Water Lane

            Wilmslow

            Cheshire

            SK9 5AF

Please remember to quote reference number FOI 3032 in any future
communications about this response.

Yours sincerely

Fiona Smith

References

Visible links
1. https://highwaysengland.co.uk/media/a14h...
2. mailto:[email address]