3 Priestley Wharf Holt Street
Aston Science Park Birmingham
United Kingdom B7 4BN
T:+44 (0)121 380 3500
F:+44 (0)121 380 3501
www.advantagewm.co.uk
Mr Nick Chance
22/05/2008
Your ref:
Our ref: FOI08-0033
Dear Mr Chance
Re: Your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act (the Act)
I can confirm that Advantage West Midlands has now completed its search for the
information which you requested on 22/05/08. We can confirm that Advantage West
Midlands holds the information requested and has used the services of Common Purpose on
occasion, in order to meet an identified training need. It is the Agency’s practice to use the most
appropriate training intervention to meet an identified training need.
You requested the following specific details
1. The names and ranks/grades of all Advantage West Midlands
who are Common Purpose "graduates".
We can confirm that we have 2 people who have had some Common Purpose Training,
but we cannot disclose their names as this information would be exempt under section 40
of the Act where the Data Protection Principles must be taken into account.
Similarly, we cannot provide the designation of the two members of staff as this might be
attributable to the individuals concerned and identify them inadvertently.
2. Please detail total expenditure by Advantage West Midlands on
Common Purpose courses for each of the following years:
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 to date.
From 2004 to date the Agency spent £1230 in total on common Purpose Training. We
spent £280 in 2005 and £950 in 2006.
3. Please explain why you see fit to associate with this highly
questionable organization?
This question appears to be inviting an opinion or an endorsement. Freedom of Information does
not cover opinion, it deals with factual recorded information. In consequence, we are unable to
reply to this question, specifically.
If you are dissatisfied with the way we have handled your request, or if you are unhappy with our
response, you can appeal via our Complaints Procedure, a copy of which is enclosed.
3 Priestley Wharf Holt Street
Aston Science Park Birmingham
United Kingdom B7 4BN
T:+44 (0)121 380 3500
F:+44 (0)121 380 3501
www.advantagewm.co.uk
If you are still dissatisfied after pursuing our Complaints Procedure, then under Section 50 of
the Act, you are entitled to appeal to the Information Commissioner (Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, telephone: 01625 545700,
fax: 01625 524510).
Yours sincerely
Vera Giles
Corporate Information & Records Manager
Direct Dial Telephone: 0121 503 3217
Fax: 0121 380 3501
Email: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx
