China visits
Please provide the following information. I make this request under the Freedom of Information Act.
1) From 1 January 2017 to the day of your response to this request, please provide information on the number of trips to China taken by council officials (both elected and unelected) in the course of conducting council business.
For each trip, please provide the following information:
- The date and duration of the overseas trip, as well as the Chinese city that was visited.
- The full name, title and position of the council officials who went on the overseas trip as well as the number of people who travelled.
- The reason or reasons why the council officials went on the trip and an explanation as to how the trip benefited the council.
- A list of places the officials visited and the people they met (please provide as much detail as possible)
- The cost of the trip (please provide a breakdown of costs including travel costs, accommodation costs, expenses and any other costs).
- Please state whether the council met the costs of the trip, or whether an individual, group, company, consortium, charity or another organisation met the costs, including Chinese companies or government bodies.
- Please provide the full name of the individual, group, company, charity or organisation that met the costs. If it is a group or consortium, please state who or what composes the group or consortium.
- Details of any gifts received by the officials, their value and which organisation, individual gave them gift.
- Details of any financial benefits received by the council as a result of the trip - eg free office space in China.
- A copy of the itinerary for each trip.
I would like to receive the information electronically.
If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible within a reasonable time frame, or the request is too broad or too vague, I would be grateful if you could contact me and provide assistance as to how I could refine the request under your Section 16 obligations.
Yours faithfully,
Dean Kirby
Classification: Unrestricted
Dear Dean
Thank you for your request for information received on 11/07/20
The Council’s policy is to release information unless an exemption can be
reasonably applied. The Council will respond within 20 working days by
either releasing the information or letting you know why it cannot release
the information. If for any reason it is not possible to respond within
the 20 days, we will let you know as soon as possible with the date by
which we anticipate we are able to respond.
For your information, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 defines a number
of exemptions, which may prevent release of the information you have
requested. There will be an assessment of your request and if any of the
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If you have any queries or concerns then please contact Alison Marston,
Freedom of Information Officer, Welwyn Hatfield Council, Council Offices,
The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL8 6LA, Tel: 01707 357413, Email:
[1][Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council request email]
Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
Kind regards,
Jasmine McCabe
Information and Governance Apprentice
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Tel: 01707 357413
Email: [2][email address]
Working better, together
[3]www.welhat.gov.uk
[4]@WelHatCouncil
[5]Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
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Classification: Unrestricted
Dear Mr Kirby
Freedom of Information Request (ref: 7138)
Thank you for your request for information to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC) received on 11 July 2020.
You have requested information relating to any trips to China undertaken by Council Officials between 1 January 2017 and now.
We can respond to your entire request by confirming that no trips to China have been made by any official from WHBC during this time period.
I hope this satisfies your request but if you have any queries or concerns then please contact me at- Hanna Gibson, Interim Freedom of Information Officer, Welwyn Hatfield Council, Council Offices, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL8 6LA,
Email: [Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council request email]
I attach a copy of the Freedom of Information complaint procedure.
Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Kind Regards
Hanna Gibson
Freedom of Information Officer (Interim)
Email [email address]
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Website: www.welhat.gov.uk
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