DWP Central Freedom of
Information Team
Caxton House
6-12 Tothil Street
London
SW1H 9NA
Nicholas Stoker
freedom-of-information-
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
DWP Website
Our Ref: FOI2022/102758
25 January 2023
Dear Nicholas Stoker,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FoI) request received on 26 December. You
wrote:
“Under the FOIA, I wish to seek information on the DWP Deputy Principal Private
Secretary advert, which is currently been readvertised:
1 - A copy of the original advert and its relevant reference number?
2 - The number of applications received, how many had been sifted to interview and how
many were successful?
3 - I wish to know why another advert has been advertised under 253649 for the same
vacancy and what has changed.
4 - I wish to see al communications with regards to approval of this vacancy under
253649 and the relevant sign off from the responsible Senior Civil Servant.
5 - How do both these adverts sit with the Civil Service Commission for the same
position, especial y if there are successful candidates already in place?”
DWP Response
We confirm that we do hold the information you have requested:
1 - A copy of the original advert and its relevant reference number?
Please see attached the relevant candidate pack for the original advert. Reference: 245110.
Please see eligibility criteria:
“Eligibility
This role is open to suitably qualified existing SCS1 civil servants and those in accredited
Non-Departmental Public Bodies on lateral transfer.”
2 - The number of applications received, how many had been sifted to interview and
how many were successful?
The original campaign that went out as an expression of interest, received 6 applications was
paused before sift to interview stage.
3 - I wish to know why another advert has been advertised under 253649 for the same
vacancy and what has changed.
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Further to point 2, the original advert was for an expression of interest role, only available to
current Civil Servants at substantive SCS1 level. The new advert has been launched as an
external, permanent competition open to everyone.
4 - I wish to see all communications with regards to approval of this vacancy under
253649 and the relevant sign off from the responsible Senior Civil Servant.
We can confirm that both the expression of interest and external permanent vacancies were
signed off via the official DWP Senior Civil Service recruitment ministerial approval process.
Please see attached redacted documents.
We are unable to provide you with some the information requested for point 4 as it
constitutes personal data of someone other than yourself and as such, it is being withheld in
accordance with section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Section 40(2) exempts information in response to a request if it is personal data belonging to
an individual other than the requester and it satisfies one of the conditions listed in the
legislation. In this case the condition contained in section 40(3A)(a) applies - that disclosure
would breach one of the data protection principles, specifical y that “Personal data shal be
processed lawful y, fairly and in a transparent manner...”.
We do not consider that disclosing this information is necessary or justified in order to satisfy
your information request and the requirements of the FoI Act. In relation to this request, we
consider that there is no strong legitimate interest that would override the prejudice to the
rights and freedoms of the data subject.
Personal data are subject to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data
Protection Act 2018
5 - How do both these adverts sit with the Civil Service Commission for the same
position, especially if there are successful candidates already in place?
Both exercises are compliant with Civil Service commission regulations; the first campaign
was an EOI. After consideration, this was changed to a an external, permanent campaign.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us quoting the reference number
above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
Department for Work and Pensions
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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.xx or by writing to: DWP Central FoI Team, Caxton
House, 6-12 Tothil 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. General y, 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.
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Website: ICO FOI and EIR complaints or telephone 0303 123 1113.
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