This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Atos norms'.

To Mr J Newman 
C/O WDTK 
 
DWP Business Management Team  
Health & Disability Assessments (Operations) 
xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
 
 
 
1 February  2013 
 
Dear Mr Newman, 
 
Freedom of Information Act - Request for Internal Review 
Our Reference: FOI IR 35 
 
Thank you for your email dated 9 January 2013 requesting a review of the Department for 
Work and Pensions (DWP) handling of your request. 
 
In your email of 09 January (IR35) you requested an internal review of DWP’s handling of your 
previous Freedom of Information (FOI 3642 2998), specifically you asked: 
 
I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling 
of my FOI request 'Atos norms'. 
 
Firstly I must correct your statistical assertions. The arbitrary and “pragmatic” exclusion of 
outlying data is NOT sound practice – clearly not all outliers are illegitimate data 
contaminants and cannot be discounted without good reason – they may just reflect the 
inherent variation in the data population. Your use of the word pragmatic” is revealing as it 
demonstrates a focus on (desired) results rather than statistical rigour. At very least the 
effect of these exclusions should be closely monitored if accuracy is the prime objective. 
The public concern is therefore obvious – that this undocumented elimination of data is 
used to massage averages in a predetermined direction. 
 
Q1: There must be some rules around what data can be excluded to ensure consistency of 
approach and I would like to know what they are currently. 
 
Q2: What evidence is there to show that outlying data at BOTH ends of the spectrum are 
equally discounted and the net effect it has had on averages? 
 
If you do not have the information, please just say so, but it will of course mean that you 
have adopted an ad hoc method of data manipulation without interest in the potential 
consequences. 
 
 
The fact that you have throughout avoided any degree of quantification is best dealt with 
through a separate request at another time... 

The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act allows 20 working days from date of receipt of the 
request in which to respond. We endeavour to answer promptly and no later than the 20 day 
deadline, unless the deadline is extended to consider if an exemption applies.   

The 20 working day deadline for the request was 31 August 2012 and I note that the response 
was issued to you via the What Do They Know website on 22 December 2012.  In this 
instance, the Department failed to respond within the 20 working days and again I apologise 
for the delay. 
In reviewing your request I uphold your complaint as the Department failed to respond to your 
request within 20 days.  
 
In response to both of the additional questions that you included within your request for a 
review, there is no data is excluded for any of the stated criteria 
 
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number 
above.   
 
Yours sincerely,  
 
 
DWP Business Management Team  
Health & Disability Assessments (Operations) 
e-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx  
 
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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
 or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team,  
Caxton House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted 
within two months of the date of this letter.  
 
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the 
Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a 
decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information 
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, 
Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk