Freedom of Information Team
xxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx
Correspondence Unit
www.gov.uk
9 Downing Street
SW1A 2AG
Vicky Cann
Via: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Our ref: DEX000989
30 April 2018
Dear Vicky Cann
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REF: DEX000989- INTERNAL REVIEW
Thank you for your e-mail of 14 March 2018 requesting an internal review of your request
made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’). I have now completed the
review.
Your original request of 13 November 2017 asked for “
the minutes of al meeting’s held,
since its creation, by DEXEU ministers” with 13 specific organisations, along with a list of
attendees for each meeting.
The response from the Department of 29 November under reference DEX000814 informed
you that your request was refused under section 14 of the Act. Your subsequent request
received on 10 January 2018 for the minutes of 39 specific meetings was also refused, and
the Department failed to respond to your fol ow-up request of 9 February for assistance in
refining your request.
I have now reviewed our response. The Department has not provided adequate advice and
assistance to aid you in making a request as required under the section 16 obligation and I
apologise for this.
The decision to refuse your request under section 14 was, as explained in our response to
you, due to the volume of information that would be potential y captured by your request, and
the subsequent burden on the Department’s resources in processing your request. This was
established by considering the resources required to retrieve the information, review it,
consult with external stakeholders and prepare any information for disclosure. Your request
for the minutes of the 39 meetings covered a wide range of topics and would be likely to
require extensive consultation on potential disclosure.
Conclusion
I find that the exemption at section 14 of the Act was correctly applied, however, the
Department has failed to provide adequate advice and assistance under the duty provided
for by section 16 of the Act.
If you are able to refine your request further, by asking for the minutes and attendance lists
of groups of meetings held with specific organisations, for example there are two meetings
listed with Goldman Sachs and two meetings with Arbuthnot Banking Group within the
timeframe of your request, this would make retrieval and consultation manageable.
I must also make you aware that the information you have requested has not been reviewed
and other exemptions of the Act may apply to any refined request you make.
This response ends the complaints process provided by the Department. If you are not
content with the outcome of your internal review, you may apply directly to the Information
Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely
J Mil ar
Information Rights Appeals
Freedom of Information Team