Atos Costs - VfM Savings

Waiting for an internal review by Department for Work and Pensions of their handling of this request.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

On 20/03/2012, Chris Grayling said in the HoC:

“Since May 2010, DWP has undertaken activity to drive down Atos Healthcare costs which has achieved Value for Money (VfM) savings. The VfM savings achieved are set against a backdrop of increased volumes and the delivery of IB Reassessment, which started in April 2011. The activities to achieve these savings have included the negotiation of better deals for contract changes to reduce the price paid.” (Hansard source Citation: HC Deb, 20 March 2012, c635W)

Please provide evidence of the £ value of the VfM savings he claims, including how they have been calculated.

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

We will forward your request to the relevant information owner within the
Department who will respond to you direct. 

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

Dear Mr Newman,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 21 March 2012. You asked:

On 20/03/2012, Chris Grayling said in the HoC:

"Since May 2010, DWP has undertaken activity to drive down Atos Healthcare costs which has achieved Value for Money (VfM) savings. The VfM savings achieved are set against a backdrop of increased volumes and the delivery of IB Reassessment, which started in April 2011. The activities to achieve these savings have included the negotiation of better deals for contract changes to reduce the price paid." (Hansard source Citation: HC Deb, 20 March 2012, c635W)

Please provide evidence of the £ value of the VfM savings he claims, including how they have been calculated.

You can expect a reply by 20 April 2012 unless we need to come back to you to clarify your request or the balance of the public interest test needs to be considered.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact us quoting the reference number VTR1274.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Atos Costs - VfM Savings'.

Unfortunately, 20 days has elapsed without any explanation for a delay.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/at...

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

We will forward your request to the relevant information owner within the
Department who will respond to you direct. 

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Atos Costs - VfM Savings'.

Long overdue, one IRR ignored already.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/at...

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

We will forward your request to the relevant information owner within the
Department who will respond to you direct. 

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Please find attached the response to your FoI request

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DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

Our Ref: 3224 - IR252

Dear Mr Newman,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 21 April 2012
that was received by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Adelphi
and forwarded for response by DWP Medical Services Contracts
Correspondence Team (MSCCT) Freedom of Information (FoI) Internal
Reviewing Officer (IRO). I apologise for the delay in replying to you.

In your email you asked to be provided with information answering the
following questions:-

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and
Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Atos Costs - VfM Savings'.

Unfortunately, 20 days has elapsed without any explanation for a delay.

The MSCCT IRO has read your letter and accepted this as a request for an
Internal Review in order that the handling of your request was dealt
with appropriately.

Your request 'Atos Costs - VfM Savings' (FOI 3077-1274) was received by
the Department on 21 March 2012.

The FoI Act allows 20 working days from date of receipt of the request
in which to respond. MSCCT endeavour to answer promptly and no later
than the 20 day deadline, unless the deadline is extended to consider if
an exemption applies.

The 20 working day deadline for the request was 20 April 2012 and it is
noted that the response was issued to you via the What Do They Know
website on 18 June. In this instance, the Department failed to respond
within the 20 working days and MSCCT apologise for the delay.

In reviewing your request the MSCCT FoI IRO upholds your complaint as
the Department failed to respond to your request within 20 days.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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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

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Atos Costs - VfM Savings'.

Not only did my initial request run over 20 days, the IRR I raised on 21st April took well over 20 days too.

This IRR is to complain about the long delay with the first IRR.

How is failure to complete IRRs on time logged in your KPI data?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/at...

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FoI mailbox.

By the next working day your request will be forwarded to the relevant
information owner within the Department who will respond to you direct. 

If your email is a Freedom of Information request you can normally
expect a response within 20 working days.

Should you have any further queries in connection with this request do
please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Atos Costs - VfM Savings'.

Please note that my previous IRR was based on time delays the the initial request and my first IRR.

This is based on the content of response 1274.

You have provided some numbers but not indicated their source or how they have been derived and/or authenticated or derived as requested.

Chris Grayling implied a real net reduction in Government expenditure – is that what these figures represent? “Non-cash added value” is not savings, so I would like to see for each quarter the actual reduction in expenditure shown separately.

A saving is the difference between one level of expenditure and another. For each quarter shown what were the two figures used and where can each be authenticated?

Are the figures you have shown a real reduction in expenditure manifesting itself as a true reduction to taxpayers, or a theoretical contruct?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/at...

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FoI mailbox.

By the next working day your request will be forwarded to the relevant
information owner within the Department who will respond to you direct. 

If your email is a Freedom of Information request you can normally
expect a response within 20 working days.

Should you have any further queries in connection with this request do
please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

Our Ref: 3392-IR366

Dear Mr Newman,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 31 May 2012 that
was received by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Adelphi and
forwarded for response by DWP Medical Services Contracts Correspondence
Team (MSCCT) Freedom of Information (FoI) Internal Reviewing Officer
(IRO).

In your email you asked to be provided with information answering the
following questions:-

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and
Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Atos Costs - VfM Savings'.

Long overdue, one IRR ignored already.

The MSCCT IRO has read your letter and accepted this as a request for an
Internal Review in order to check that the handling of your request Atos
Costs - VfM Savings (FOI 3077-1274) has been dealt with appropriately.

I note that you also submitted another Internal Review dated 21 April
(FOI 3224-IR252) regarding the same request. A response to the Internal
Review was issued on 20 June 2012. The response apologised for the time
taken to respond to FOI 3077-1274, and upheld your complaint. As such
there is nothing further that I can add to this review response.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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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 [DWP request email] or by
writing to DWP, Central FoI Team,
Caxton House, Tothill Street, 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.
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

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J Newman left an annotation ()

Note that there are IRRs outstanding from 25/06 & 26/06.

Dear DWP freedom-of-information-requests,

Note that there are IRRs outstanding from 25/06 & 26/06.

Yours sincerely,

J Newman

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FoI mailbox.

By the next working day your request will be forwarded to the relevant
information owner within the Department who will respond to you direct. 

If your email is a Freedom of Information request you can normally
expect a response within 20 working days.

Should you have any further queries in connection with this request do
please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

DWP DWP Medical Services Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Newman

Please find enclosed a response to your request for a review of the
information previously supplied   under the Freedom of Information Act by
the Medical Services Contract Correspondence Team Freedom of Information
Internal Review Officer, who apologises for the delay in providing you
with a response.

<<FOI 3483-IR411 Mr Newman Response.pdf>>

Kind regards

Medical Services Contract Correspondence Unit, Department for Work and
Pensions, Room 306, Block 3, Norcross, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3TA
Tel 01253 611556, extn 69956

Please consider the environment before printing

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DWP DWP Medical Services Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Newman

Please find enclosed a response to your request for a review of the
information previously supplied   under the Freedom of Information Act by
the Medical Services Contract Correspondence Team Freedom of Information
Internal Review Officer, who apologises for the delay in providing you
with a response.

<<3491-IR412 Mr Newman Response.pdf>>
Kind regards

Medical Services Contract Correspondence Unit, Department for Work and
Pensions, Room 306, Block 3, Norcross, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3TA
Tel 01253 611556, extn 69956

Please consider the environment before printing

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Dear DWP DWP Medical Services Correspondence,

Note that I have not yet received a response to my IRR dated 26th June (acknowledged same day) regarding the content of VTR 3077-1274

Yours sincerely,

J Newman