Available documentation relating the supply, use training and maintance of BL-755 cluster muntions to Saudi Arabia and the UAE

The request was partially successful.

Dear Ministry of Defence,

I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act.

I am asking for relevant documents in the form of departmental minutes; submissions; briefing notes; written statements; correspondence electronic or otherwise and / or any other relevant information available on the replacement, destruction or removal of stocks of BL-755 cluster bombs in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates following the entry into force of the Cluster Munitions Convention 2008. (CMC)

Specifically, I wish to receive copies of documents relating to:
1) Records held by the department on the legal implications relating to supply, training, maintenance, upgrade or other assistance relating to stocks held of BL-755 cluster munitions by either Saudi Arabia or UAE under pre-existing defence contracts following the entry into force of the 2008 CMC.
2) Records held by the department of any initiatives to destroy, remove or replace existing stocks of BL-755 cluster munitions in Saudi Arabia or UAE following the entry into force of the 2008 CMC
3) Records held by the department relating to guidance issued to UK persons working under existing defence contracts in either Saudi Arabia or UAE detailing those persons’ legal obligations under the 2008 CMC or the corresponding Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act 2010.
4) Records held by the department of changes made to training, maintenance or re-supply contracts as they relate to existing stocks of BL-755 Cluster munitions held by Saudi Arabia or the UAE following the entry into force of the 2008 CMC
If it is not possible to provide information relating to all four points noted above, I would like to be provided with whatever information is available relating to any of the information requested above.

I am making this request in light of similar archived information released by the department as it relates to the replacement of JP233 Runway denial munitions following the entry into force of the 1999 Landmines Act. Under those arrangements, the department took active steps to replace existing stocks of JP233 munitions with Paveway smart munitions and accompanying changes to training and aircraft upgrades following an assessment of the department’s legal obligations following the entry into force of the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty.

Yours faithfully,

Oliver Sprague

Wallis, Shane,

1 Attachment

Regards,

 

Shane Wallis | Policy & Secretariat | Ministry of DefenceI

Main Building (04/D/29), Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB I Telephone : +44 (0)
30 6770 2383

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is
addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or there are problems
please notify the sender and then delete the e-mail (and file(s) if
attached) from your system.

Recipients should note that e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to
monitoring, recording and auditing to secure the effective operation of
the system and for other lawful purposes.

The MOD has taken steps to keep this e-mail and any attachments free from
viruses. However it accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever
caused as a result of any virus being passed on. It is the responsibility
of the recipient to perform all necessary checks.

The statements expressed in this email are personal to the sender and do
not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the department..

Wallis, Shane,

1 Attachment

Regards.

 

Shane Wallis | Policy & Secretariat | Ministry of Defence

Main Building (04/D/29), Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB I Telephone : +44 (0)
30 6770 2383

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is
addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or there are problems
please notify the sender and then delete the e-mail (and file(s) if
attached) from your system.

Recipients should note that e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to
monitoring, recording and auditing to secure the effective operation of
the system and for other lawful purposes.

The MOD has taken steps to keep this e-mail and any attachments free from
viruses. However it accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever
caused as a result of any virus being passed on. It is the responsibility
of the recipient to perform all necessary checks.

The statements expressed in this email are personal to the sender and do
not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the department..

 

Dear Wallis, Shane,

Re FOI ref: FOI2016/06026:

You wrote to me on 3rd August outlining a delay to my request whilst a public interest test was completed. It was indicated to me in that letter that you would update me by the end of August 2016 if there was going to be any further delay. As of 19th September 2016, as far as I am aware, I have received no response from you.

Would it be possible to update me on the current situation regarding my request.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Sprague

Dear Ministry of Defence,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Ministry of Defence's handling of my FOI request 'Available documentation relating the supply, use training and maintance of BL-755 cluster muntions to Saudi Arabia and the UAE'.

You wrote to me on 5th July stating that you required an additional 20 working days to further determine public interest balance test on my request. You then wrote again on 3rd of August outlining a further delay whilst more consideration was given, but stated in that letter that you would inform me of progress by the end of August 2016. I received no update from you and wrote on 19th September to request an update. I've now waited a further month for any further response from you. Whilst I do not wish to place additional burdens on your department, I would hope that a decision on my request could be forthcoming as soon as possible, as it is already long overdue.

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

Yours faithfully,

Oliver Sprague

CIO-FOI (MULTIUSER),

Dear Mr Sprague,

Thank you for your email enquiring about not having received a substantive response to your Freedom of Information request regarding the supply, use training and maintenance of BL-755 cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

As no substantive response has been issued for this request yet, the Information Rights Compliance will not be able to conduct an internal review on this request. However, the business area that are taking your request forward have been approached and have indicated that they hope to be in a position to provide a substantive response to this request by 4 November 2016.

If you remain dissatisfied at this stage, you may take your compliant to the Information Commissioner. Further details of the role and powers of the Information Commissioner can be found on the Commissioner's website, https://ico.org.uk/.

Yours Sincerely,

MOD Information Rights team

show quoted sections

Wallis, Shane,

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Sprague,

 

Please find attached a final response to your request for information
dated 08 June 2016.

 

I must apologise for the long delay in the issue of this response due in
large part to matters disassociated with the subject matter.

 

Regards,

 

Shane

Shane Wallis | Policy & Secretariat | Ministry of Defence

Main Building (04/D/29), Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB I Telephone : +44 (0)
30 6770 2383

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is
addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or there are problems
please notify the sender and then delete the e-mail (and file(s) if
attached) from your system.

Recipients should note that e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to
monitoring, recording and auditing to secure the effective operation of
the system and for other lawful purposes.

The MOD has taken steps to keep this e-mail and any attachments free from
viruses. However it accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever
caused as a result of any virus being passed on. It is the responsibility
of the recipient to perform all necessary checks.

The statements expressed in this email are personal to the sender and do
not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the department..