UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD
Ref. FOI/20190821/1
18 September 2019
Reply to request for information under Freedom of Information of Act
Your Ref
Emails dated 21 August 2019
Address
WhatDoTheyKnow.com
_
Request
See Annex.
Dear Mr Jacob,
I write in reply to your emails of 21 August 2019 requesting the information shown at the Annex.
We will not comply with your requests in their current form, as we estimate that the time required to determine
whether the information requested is held, and to locate, retrieve and extract it, would exceed the maximum
amount of time a public authority is required to spend on a single request, namely, 18 hours.
The requests are broad in nature, and cover large amounts of information. The information relates to a total of
73 different companies and 14 departments. It is not readily available from a single system, file or set of files,
but would need to be collected from different departments, sections or individuals, and from information held
in a number of different formats. Three administrative departments hold data about research grants and related
contracts and industrial consultancies, while a fourth holds information about donations to the University. In
addition, it is likely that we would also need to contact each individual academic department for further
information, especially in relation to industrial consultancies.
Of the 73 companies you have enquired about, we have been advised that ten have made donations to the
departments/centres specified for what appear to be six separate projects in the financial years of 2014-15 to
2018-19. Approximately two days’ work is estimated to be required to retrieve and extract this data. In addition
to the donations, we have been advised that sixteen companies/bodies have provided research funding to
fourteen of the departments/centres listed for approximately 212 separate projects. It is estimated that
retrieving and extracting the information in terms of total funding received over the period specified would take
at least one working day. However, more time would be required to provide a breakdown by year.
We are therefore refusing your requests under section 12 of the FOIA. Section 12 of the FOIA allows a public
authority to refuse a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with it would
exceed the appropriate limit. The appropriate limit for Universities is £450, which corresponds to a time limit of
18 hours or just over two working days, because the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate
Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (the ‘Regulations’) fix staff costs at £25 an hour.
In reaching this conclusion, we have aggregated your requests and other requests received from three other
requestors relating to a further nine departments. All 23 requests seek the same or similar information but in
respect of different departments, namely, research grants, donations and projects funded by the same energy-
related companies and/or defence-related companies or bodies. Section 12(4) of the FOIA, read together with
Regulation 5 of the Regulations, allows a public authority to aggregate two or more requests seeking the same
or similar information where the requests are made by the same person, or by different persons who appear to
be acting in concert, and where the requests are received within 60 consecutive working days of each other.
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We consider that the University is also entitled to refuse your requests under section 14(1) of the FOIA. The
Information Tribunal has accepted that a public authority may use section 14(1) to refuse a request that would
impose a disproportionate burden, after allowing for activities that cannot be taken into account under section
12 e.g. the time required to redact any exempt information or to consult with third parties.
Where a request is made for information relating to a third party, we need to consult that third party in order
to determine whether they regard any of the information to be exempt from disclosure under the FOIA. Such a
consultation exercise in this particular case would be a large and time consuming task, given the large number
of donations, research grants and projects involved.
The University is mindful of its obligation under section 16 of the FOIA to provide advice and assistance. If you
were to list the organisations that you have enquired about in order of priority, we would provide as much
information as the appropriate limit allows, starting with the first organisation, and working downwards, until
the appropriate limit is reached. Please indicate whether you wish to submit a new request on this basis.
INTERNAL REVIEW
If you are dissatisfied with this reply, you may ask the University to review it, by writing to the Head of
Information Compliance at the following address:
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford
OX1 2JD
Alternatively, you may request a review by e-mailing xxx@xxxxx.xx.xx.xx
THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
If, after the internal review, you are still dissatisfied, you have the right under FOIA to apply to the Information
Commissioner for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in accordance with the FOIA. The
Information Commissioner’s address is:
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123113
Further information for submitting complaints to the Information Commissioner is available at
http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx
Yours sincerely,
FOI OXFORD
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ANNEX
Email dated 21 August 2019, timed at 11:25
I write to request information regarding the funding the School of Engineering Science has received from the
following companies: Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, EDO MBM Technology LTD, General Dynamics,
Airbus, BAE Systems, QinetiQ, GKN, Cobham, Elbit Systems, Leonardo, United Technologies, L3 Technologies,
Babcock International, Northrop Grumman, Serco, Leonardo S.p.A., Raytheon, Meggitt, Thales, AirTanker, Ultra
Electronics, Chemring, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).
In addition, I write to request information regarding the contracts the School of Engineering Science holds with
the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the United States Army, the United
States Air Force, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the US Department of Defense and the
American Office of Naval Research.
Please include the following information:
For each of the above companies/bodies please list all projects, industrial research and industrial consultancy
that the School of Engineering Science has received funding for over the past five academic years, 2014-15,
2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. Please also include donations from any of the aforementioned
companies/bodies.
Please ensure that details show the company or government body that provided the funding, the start and end
date of the contract/project, the title of the project/research/donation and the total funding of each
contract/project year-by-year for the past five academic years.
Please also show any public research councils involved or participating in the contract/project in question.
Email dated 21 August 2019, timed at 11:27
I write to request information regarding the funding the Department of Statistics has received from the following
companies: Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, EDO MBM Technology LTD, General Dynamics, Airbus, BAE
Systems, QinetiQ, GKN, Cobham, Elbit Systems, Leonardo, United Technologies, L3 Technologies, Babcock
International, Northrop Grumman, Serco, Leonardo S.p.A., Raytheon, Meggitt, Thales, AirTanker, Ultra
Electronics, Chemring, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).
In addition, I write to request information regarding the contracts the Department of Statistics holds with the
Ministry of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the United States Army, the United States
Air Force, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the US Department of Defense and the American
Office of Naval Research.
Please include the following information:
For each of the above companies/bodies please list all projects, industrial research and industrial consultancy
that the Department of Statistics has received funding for over the past five academic years, 2014-15, 2015-16,
2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. Please also include donations from any of the aforementioned
companies/bodies.
Please ensure that details show the company or government body that provided the funding, the start and end
date of the contract/project, the title of the project/research/donation and the total funding of each
contract/project year-by-year for the past five academic years. Please also show any public research councils
involved or participating in the contract/project in question.
Email dated 21 August 2019, timed at 11:29
Email dated 21 August 2019, timed at 11:29
I write to request information regarding the funding the School of Zoology has received from the following
companies: Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, EDO MBM Technology LTD, General Dynamics, Airbus, BAE
Systems, QinetiQ, GKN, Cobham, Elbit Systems, Leonardo, United Technologies, L3 Technologies, Babcock
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International, Northrop Grumman, Serco, Leonardo S.p.A., Raytheon, Meggitt, Thales, AirTanker, Ultra
Electronics, Chemring, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).
In addition, I write to request information regarding the contracts the School of Zoology holds with the Ministry
of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the United States Army, the United States Air
Force, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the US Department of Defense and the American Office
of Naval Research.
Please include the following information:
For each of the above companies/bodies please list all projects, industrial research and industrial consultancy
that the School of Zoology has received funding for over the past five academic years, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-
17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. Please also include donations from any of the aforementioned companies/bodies.
Please ensure that details show the company or government body that provided the funding, the start and end
date of the contract/project, the title of the project/research/donation and the total funding of each
contract/project year-by-year for the past five academic years.
Please also show any public research councils involved or participating in the contract/project in question.
Email dated 21 August 2019, timed at 11:30
I write to request information regarding funding the Department of Earth Sciences has received from the
following companies:
BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil, Total SA, E.ON, Maersk Oil, ConocoPhillips, OMV, BHP Billton, Exxon Mobil,
Rio Tinto, Gazprom, Glencore, Tullow Oil, Perenco, Petro China, Chevron Corporation, Sinopec, Rosneft, Reliance
Industries, Valero Energy, Engie, Marathon Petroleum, Saudi Aramco, China National Petroleum Corporation,
Kuwait Petroleum Company, ENI, APICORP, Bahrain Petroleum Company, Delonex Energy, Japan Oil, Gas and
Metals National Corporation, Petrobras, Cheniere Energy, Enagás, Mercuria Energy Group, RS Energy, Vitol,
Tellurian Inc., Snam S.p.A., Schlumberger and Techint.
Please include the following information:
For each of the above companies/bodies please list all projects, industrial research, industrial consultancy and
university positions that the Department of Earth Sciences has received funding for over the past five academic
years, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. Please also include donations from any of the
aforementioned companies/bodies.
Please ensure that details show the company that provided the funding, the start and end date of the
contract/project, the title of the project/research/donation/position and the total funding of each
contract/project/position year-by-year for the past five academic years.
Please also show any public research councils involved or participating in the contract/project in question.
Email dated 21 August 2019, timed at 11:32
Email dated 21 August 2019, timed at 11:32
I write to request information regarding funding the School of Physiology has received from the following
companies:
BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil, Total SA, E.ON, Maersk Oil, ConocoPhillips, OMV, BHP Billton, Exxon Mobil,
Rio Tinto, Gazprom, Glencore, Tullow Oil, Perenco, Petro China, Chevron Corporation, Sinopec, Rosneft, Reliance
Industries, Valero Energy, Engie, Marathon Petroleum, Saudi Aramco, China National Petroleum Corporation,
Kuwait Petroleum Company, ENI, APICORP, Bahrain Petroleum Company, Delonex Energy, Japan Oil, Gas and
Metals National Corporation, Petrobras, Cheniere Energy, Enagás, Mercuria Energy Group, RS Energy, Vitol,
Tellurian Inc., Snam S.p.A., Schlumberger and Techint.
Please include the following information:
For each of the above companies/bodies please list all projects, industrial research, industrial consultancy and
university positions that the School of Physiology has received funding for over the past five academic years,
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2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. Please also include donations from any of the
aforementioned companies/bodies.
Please ensure that details show the company that provided the funding, the start and end date of the
contract/project, the title of the project/research/donation/position and the total funding of each
contract/project/position year-by-year for the past five academic years.
Please also show any public research councils involved or participating in the contract/project in question.
