Chinese names for British political figures (Renewed Request)
Dear Sir/Madam,
Further to the request made by Dr. Kaihsu Tai in August 2008 under your reference no. 0661-08, I should be most grateful if your Office can collate an updated Chinese name list for UK political figures, preferably including the names of the new Con-Lib Dem cabinet.
Your reply at the earliest convenience is much appreciated. Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Clithering
Dear Clithering
Thank you for your email this has been forwarded to the appropriate FCO department for response.
Please note that we are not treating this as a request under the Freedom of Information Act, but as a 'business as usual' request which can be answered without referring to the Act.
Regards
Mark Lowen
Information Rights Team
Dear Mr. Lowen,
Please kindly note that tomorrow will be the due date of this request. A timely formal response from your Department would be much appreciated.
Besides, please explain why my request is not covered under the Freedom of Information Act. To my understanding, I am requesting for an updated list of Chinese names for British figures. It should not be regarded as a "business as usual request" as you've suggested.
Yours faithfully,
Clithering
Dear Clithering,
I am sorry that you have not received a reply to your query. I have forwarded your latest email to our public correspondence unit for them to chase the department tasked with replying.
On your point on why this is not being treated under the Act. We receive a large amount of correspondence that are straightforward requests for information which we dealt with as a matter of course before FOI came into force.
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Team
Kaihsu Tai left an annotation ()
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office needs to explain (but so far has not explained) how the law allows them the discretion to ‘demote’ a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to routine correspondence which is not subject to the requirements (such as the time limit) the FOI Act provides. If it does not, a request for internal review may be in order.
Ganesh Sittampalam left an annotation ()
For what it's worth, the DCMS have been playing this game too, see e.g. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/fo.... They refused to carry out an internal review so I've gone to the ICO.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My request has been overdue for more than 5 days. I wonder if FCO is still handling my request. It's important for FCO to understand that a delayed reply is not a good service.
Yours faithfully,
Clithering
Kaihsu Tai left an annotation ()
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office needs to be reminded that under the law, they are not at liberty to treat a Freedom of Information request in any other way than in compliance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
If the Treasury can produce Mr. Liam Byrne's "no money" note to this site promptly, why your department fails to give me the revised name list as required by law.
Yours faithfully,
Clithering
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Steve Elibank left an annotation ()
I can't imagine why they're not treating it as an FOI request, it seems perfectly reasonable to me...