This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Thank you cards received by the Berkshire Jobcentre'.



 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                     2 June 2014 
 
FOI ref: IR251 
                                                                                      
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
 
 
 
Dear Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit, 
 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FOI) review request, which we received on 
27 May 2014.  
 
I am of a senior grade to the person who dealt with your request previously, and can 
confirm that I have carried out an internal review. I am now in a position to respond to 
you. 
 
You have asked us: I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work 
and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Thank you cards received by the Berkshire 
Jobcentre'. We asked about the numbers of cards received by Berkshire Jobcentres, 
but our request was refused on cost grounds, although you've said you receive many 
hundreds a year (where did that figure come from?). 
 
We dispute the conclusion on cost grounds, there aren't many jobcentres in Berkshire 
and each of them should be able to say approximately how often they receive a thank 
you card. It will not take one person 3 or more days to do that - which is why I confined 
the request to a single county. About Psychologists, we asked in which jobcentres they 
are employed but the response is silent on this question. 
 
I am content that your original request was dealt with in accordance with DWP 
guidelines for FoI requests.  
 
In response to the specific questions you raise, DWP carried out a provisional check 
across a selection of districts around the country; most reported that they have received 
well over one hundred compliment or thank you letters this year. At an aggregate level, 
this would amount to many thousands of compliments and thank you cards received 
each year. However, the precise number of cards received is not collated centrally. 
 
In terms of the cost limit, we are aware that on "rightsnet" it was proposed that multiple 
requests should be made to the Department for different JCP areas to try to avoid the 
cost limit. However, as per regulation 5(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Data 
Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, aggregate requests such as 
these exceed the cost threshold; this provision was included in the legislation to prevent 
numerous individual requests on the same topic being used as a tactic to avoid the cost 
threshold.  
 
 
Printed on 100% recycled paper 
 
 


 
 
In response to your query about specific locations, Work Psychologists work across 
geographical areas, so do not work from just one jobcentre. This is why the total 
number of Work Psychologists was provided in our original response instead.   
 
I hope this is helpful; if you have any queries about this letter please contact me 
quoting the reference number above.   
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
 
Central FoI Team  
 
 
 
 
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 
 
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