Communications for Scientology-related charities
Dear Charity Commission for England and Wales,
Please provide internal and external communications in respect of the following charities:
267386 NARCONON
1098004 NARCONON LONDON
1112230 NARCONON TRUST
287037 GREENFIELDS EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Please include letters, emails, faxes, memos, agenda, minutes, and notes of phone calls and of meetings.
Please provide the information to me in electronic format at this email address.
Many thanks.
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the Commission*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost i*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn yw*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un o*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu â
chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn. Fe
fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person sy*n delio
gyda*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Charity Commission for England and Wales,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Charity Commission for England and Wales's handling of my FOI request 'Communications for Scientology-related charities'.
My reason for requesting an internal review is:
No substantive response has been provided. The legal deadline has expired.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the Commission*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost i*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn yw*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un o*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu â
chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn. Fe
fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person sy*n delio
gyda*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Mr Thackeray
Thank you for your email of 30 November 2010 requesting an internal review
of the Commission's handling of your Freedom of Information (FOI) request
"'Communications for Scientology-related charities' which has been passed
to me as the person responsible for conducting internal reviews of FOI
requests.
I have considered your reason for requesting an internal review which is
that you have not received a substantive response within the set legal
time limit for FOI requests.
Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 sets out the time frame
for compliance with a request and states that "a public authority must
comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than the 20th
working day following the date of receipt."
I have reviewed the correspondence to date and it is the case that we have
not been able to provide you with a substantive response within the
required timescale. Please accept my apologies for this oversight on our
behalf.
I note that you also have a request outstanding for information about
the Church of Scientology Religious Education College Incorporated.
I have taken over responsibility for dealing with both of the outstanding
FOI requests and will endeavour to provide a full response to you by the
end of the week.
Yours sincerely
Margaret Eccleston
Corporate Information Manager
Charity Commission, 3rd Floor, 12 Princes Dock, Princes Parade, Liverpool,
L3 1DE
Direct Line: 0151 703 1593 Email:
[1][email address]
----------------- Original Message
Dear Mr Thackeray
Further to my email earlier I have undertaken a preliminary assessment of
this FOI request where you have requested all internal and external
communications in respect of the following charities (including letters,
emails, faxes, memos, agenda, minutes, and notes of phone calls and of
meetings):
267386 NARCONON
1098004 NARCONON LONDON
1112230 NARCONON TRUST
287037 GREENFIELDS EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Section 12 of the Act makes provision for public authorities to refuse
requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed
the appropriate limit, which for central government is set at **600. This
represents the estimated cost of one person spending 3.5 working days in
determining whether the Commission holds the information, locating,
retrieving and extracting the information.
I estimate that it will take us in excess of 3.5 working days to determine
appropriate material and locate, retrieve and extract the information in
reference to your request.
Normally we would ask you to refine your request by narrowing its scope by
being more specific about what information you particularly wish to
obtain, including any dates or period of time relevant to the information
required. However, I have assessed that I would be in a position to
service your requests if I were to treat them as 4 separate requests as
individually they may not exceed the appropriate limit of **600. I trust
that this is acceptable to you.
Yours sincerely
Margaret Eccleston
Corporate Information Manager
Charity Commission, 3rd Floor, 12 Princes Dock, Princes Parade, Liverpool,
L3 1DE
Direct Line: 0151 703 1593 Email:
[1][email address]
------------------- Original Message
Dear Margaret,
Awaiting your further response.
Many thanks.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Dear Charity Commission for England and Wales,
Could I please have an update on the progress of this FOIA query?
Many thanks.
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the Commission*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost i*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn yw*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un o*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu â
chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn. Fe
fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person sy*n delio
gyda*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Web Enquiries,
Awaiting a substantive response re this case.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the CommissionÂ*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost iÂ*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn ywÂ*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un oÂ*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu
â chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn.
Fe fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person syÂ*n
delio gydaÂ*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Charity Commission for England and Wales,
Could I get a substantive response re the progress of this case please? I've been waiting for some months now.
Many thanks.
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the CommissionÂ*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost iÂ*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn ywÂ*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un oÂ*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu
â chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn.
Fe fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person syÂ*n
delio gydaÂ*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Charity Commission for England and Wales,
Awaiting your response, due 16 Jan 2011.
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the CommissionÂ*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost iÂ*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn ywÂ*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un oÂ*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu
â chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn.
Fe fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person syÂ*n
delio gydaÂ*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Web Enquiries,
Awaiting your response, which was due on 16 Jan 2011 (four and a half months ago).
I'd like to draw your attention to your legal obligations set out in the Freedom of Information Act.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the CommissionÂ*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost iÂ*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn ywÂ*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un oÂ*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu
â chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn.
Fe fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person syÂ*n
delio gydaÂ*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Mr Thackeray
I am sorry to hear that you have not received a full response to your FOI
requests. As the officer who was allocated this work no longer works for
the Commission I will need to call up all the paperwork and files to see
what has happened here. I will endeavour to provide you with a full
update by the end of next week (Friday 10 June 2011).
Yours sincerely
Margaret Eccleston
Corporate Information Manager
------------------- Original Message
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #50871 email]
If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.
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Secure Intranet anti-virus service supplied by Cable&Wireless Worldwide in
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case of problems, please call your organisation***s IT Helpdesk.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
2. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
3. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
Becky Bbear left an annotation ()
What are the chances - Internal review requested November 30 2010, Margaret Eccleston identifies herself as the officer responsible, conducts a preliminary assessment and agrees on December 15 2010 the authority failed to respond, promises 4 responses to service the request, then taking the most recent response of June 3 2011 at face value leaves the Commission and is replaced by - Margaret Eccleston!
Some coincidence!
Guessing they just plain forgot, would have been more honest to admit her mistake.
Anastasia left an annotation ()
Wait for it ........ "We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both accurate and appropriate."
Becky Bbear left an annotation ()
Kind of makes you wonder if they ever actually read these threads back - would not be surprised if the next response just claims the exemption on cost/time again.
Wonder if Madge, Tom C, or John T have this problem getting answers - kind of funny/sad really, oh well, guess they can always ask the space aliens - LOL.
Dear Charity Commission for England and Wales,
Awaiting a substantive response to my query under the Freedom of Information Act, dated 1 November 2010.
Under the Act, the Commission had 35 working days to either produce a substantive response, or to explain why (under FOIA) it does not have to produce the information.
As that deadline expired some time ago, the Commission is now in breach of law, and has been for some months.
I would remind the Commission that where the Information Commissioner is satisfied that a public authority has failed to comply with any of the requirements of Part I of the Act he may, under section 52 of the Act, serve the authority with a notice (referred to in the Act as an “enforcement notice”). This notice will explain what the public authority has failed to do, set out the Commissioner's reasons for reaching his conclusions and specify the steps the authority needs to take in order to comply with the Act.
My request for enforcement action is now pending with the Information Commissioner's Office; it would however be more convenient for all parties (including the Commission itself) if the Commission were to comply with the Act without external compulsion.
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the CommissionÂ*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost iÂ*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn ywÂ*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un oÂ*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu
â chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn.
Fe fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person syÂ*n
delio gydaÂ*ch ymholiad.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete
the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Dear Mr Thackeray
Apologies for the delay in providing you with an update. I now have all
the papers and I am now working through them to ensure that I am able to
release the documents as per the requirements of the FOI act.
Yours sincerely
Margaret Eccleston
Corporate Information Manager
------------------- Original Message
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #50871 email]
If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.
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Secure Intranet anti-virus service supplied by Cable&Wireless Worldwide in
partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number 2009/09/0052.) In
case of problems, please call your organisation***s IT Helpdesk.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
2. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
3. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
4. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
5. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
Dear Margaret,
Awaiting your substantive response re this case.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Dear Charity Commission for England and Wales,
Awaiting your response.
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.
We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.
This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email enquiries
within five working days where there is no need for referral to one of our
specialist operational teams.
If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will contact
you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and indicate
when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response. We will
also let you have the name and contact number of the person dealing with
your query.
You can find the CommissionÂ*s contact details on our website at
[1]http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
Diolch am eich e-bost iÂ*r Comisiwn Elusennau.
Rydym yn anelu at ymateb yn llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod gwaith o dderbyn
eich e-bost.
Hwn ywÂ*r un targed ac ymateb i lythyron ond mae Comisiwn Elusennau
Uniongyrchol fel arfer yn ymateb i e-byst o fewn pum diwrnod gwaith, ble
does yna ddim angen cyfeirio at un oÂ*n timau gweithredol arbenigol.
Os na fedrwn roi ymateb llawn o fewn pymtheg diwrnod, fe wnawn gysylltu
â chi i esbonio pam, gan nodi pryd y byddwn yn medru ymateb yn llawn.
Fe fyddwn hefyd yn rhoi gwybod enw a rhif uniongyrchol y person syÂ*n
delio gydaÂ*ch ymholiad.
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Dear Mr Thackeray
I am writing to apologise for the Charity Commission’s delayed response to
your Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 1 November 2010. Ms
Eccleston's response dated 15 December shown below advised you that we
will treat your request as 4 separate FOI requests but I note that you
have not yet been given this information despite repeated requests to the
Commision.
The individual to whom this request was assigned has now left the
Commission and we have identified this request as still outstanding. I
sincerely apologise for the unacceptable standard of service you have
received. May I assure you that such instances are rare and that the
Commission makes strenuous efforts to ensure such requests are fulfilled
within the agreed timescale.
I have now forwarded your request to our Business Assurance Team for
resolution and they will contact you shortly.
Yours Sincerely
Duncan McCue
--------- Original Message
Dear Duncan,
Many thanks. I look forward to receiving your substantive response.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Dear Mr Thackeray
Thank you for your recent email. I have now had a chance to look at the
request that you have made in more detail. I see that we have previously
advised that we would treat your initial request for information as 4
separate requests (one for each charity) as this would enable us to be in
a position to service the requests. We are prepared to continue with this
approach but further consideration makes me feel that this may, in some
cases, be outside the criteria laid down by Section 12 of the Act.
Further to this I should stress that that the Act provides the right to
information rather than general copies of correspondence.
With this in mind I think it would be useful if I could ask you to help us
by being more specific about what information it is that you particularly
wish to obtain, including any dates or period of time relevant to the
information required.
I apologise again for the considerable delay that you have encountered in
respect of this request and recognise that it would have been helpful for
us to have asked you for clarity earlier in the process. I will, though,
aim to resolve the matter as swiftly as possible on receipt of your
response.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FoI Manager
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Dear Liam,
Thank you for getting back to me.
I don't agree that the approach to which the Commission has already commited itself would be contrary to Section 12 of the Act (which, in any case the Commission has discretion to ignore).
I would point out that this response has taken so long (over a year, and information not yet provided) that, had the Commission complied with its legal responsibilities under FOIA in respect of time limits, there would have been ample time for me to make 4 separate requests, each treated as an individual cost centre for the purposes of Section 12 of the Act.
So, I'd like the information as originally requested, please.
If the information as originally requested - treated as 4 separate requests for Section 12 purposes - is over the cost limit, then I'd like a clear statement of what the costs are for each part of the information.
That way I can choose which information to exclude from the requests, in order to reduce their cost and place them within the limit.
Kind regards,
William Thackeray
Dear Liam,
Awaiting your response to my email of 19 November.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Becky Bbear left an annotation ()
William - Don't you mean your email of November 29? Unless there is another not posted on this thread.
Becky
I'm sorry, I meant my email of 29 November. Apologies for the typo.
Yours faithfully,
William Thackeray
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Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon (267386)
Thank you for your recent email. I have been trying to locate all the
information I need so that I can respond to your request for information
regarding the charities, Greenfields Educational Trust (287037), Narconon
Trust (1112230), Narconon London (1098004) and Narconon (267386).
I have been able to do so in respect of the first 3 charities. I have sent
you a response regarding Greenfields Educational Trust and expect to be
able to provide a response for the other two charities shortly. I have,
though, struggled to locate and get together all the information for
Narconon (267386) and unfortunately I cannot justify continuing with this
approach. It would be outside the provisions laid down by Section 12 for
me to continue, even though I was anxious to address this given the way we
have handled your request to date.
To be clear Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act makes provision
for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost
of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit, which for central
government is set at £600.This represents the estimated cost of one person
spending 3.5 working days in determining whether the Commission holds the
information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information. I
estimate that it will take us in excess of 3.5 working days to determine
appropriate material and locate, retrieve and extract the information in
reference to your request.
I am sorry that we have told you that we would be able to do this. My
original view, and I think the initial view provided by the Commission,
was taken before we were fully aware of all the information that would
need to be located and extracted in relation to the request as it is
currently framed.
We would of course be prepared to be look again if you could reframe the
request and be more specific in letting us know what it is that you would
like. For example are there any specific dates or perhaps a particular
issue that you are interested in, such as the charitable status of the
organisation. If you could let me have such a request then I would be
willing to take this forward accordingly.
If you are unhappy with our response to the request you have made, have a
complaint about it or wish to request a review of this decision, you
should write to: Charity Commission Direct, PO Box 1227, Liverpool, L69
3UG. Please state what it is you are dissatisfied with, which will assist
us when we review our response.
If after this, you remain unhappy with the decision, you can then apply
directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints
process. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FOI Manager
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Dear Liam,
Thank you for getting back to me.
By the way, I haven't received your response re Greenfields; I'd be grateful if you'd resend it (to the address on this email - it should get through ok then, fingers crossed).
Concerning Narconon: I appreciate the problem. Perhaps you could describe the way in which the information is divided up?
I've been working on the assumption that the Commission kept some kind of a correspondence folder or 'case file' on each registered charity, if that's not the case then if you could describe to me what the different sources of information are, then perhaps I could exclude some of them.
My primary interests re Narconon are:
- what claims Narconon made to the Commission to support its position that it should be allowed to register as a charity, either at the time of registration or subsequently.
- what enquiries (if any) the Commission undertook in order to verify the truth of these claims, and what the results of those enquiries were.
- what other information (if any) the Commission sought outside of that provided by Narconon, in respect of its eligibility for registration.
- other information which may have been provided by Narconon, either at the time of registration or later, in respect of
* the purported efficacy of Narconon's 'treatment',
* Narconon's purported independence from Scientology.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Dear Mr Thackeray.
I am unsure whether you have received this. This may be because of the
size of the files that i am trying to send you. What I will try to do is
send 4 separate emails as this may allow the emails to be received. Thank
you for your recent response regarding Narconon. I will treat this as a
priority when i return to the office in the new year (3 January)
Dear Mr Thackeray
Thank you for your recent emails. I am now in a position to respond to the
request for information that you have made regarding the charity
Greenfields Educational Trust (287037).
You have requested that the Commission provides internal and external
communications in respect of Greenfields Educational Trust and asked that
we please include letters, emails, faxes, memos, agenda, minutes, and
notes of phone calls and of meetings. You have also requested that we
provide the information in electronic format at the email address that you
provided.
The Act imposes a duty, set out in section 1 (1) (a) to confirm or deny
whether we hold information of the description specified in your request.
In this instance I can confirm that we do hold such information. I must
emphasize that the Act provides the right to information rather than just
general copies of correspondence. I have looked at what we hold to see
whether we can release it to you under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act and my comments are as follows:
Annual Returns
I have enclosed the Annual Returns that we hold from 2005 up until 2010
but you will see that some personal information has been redacted under
Section 40 (2) of the Act. Some of the information within is considered
personal information and to release it would be contrary to the data
protection principles outlined in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act
1998.
Similar information is available by viewing the charity’s accounts or
Summary Information returns available on our website at
[1]www.charitycommission.gov.uk . Clearly these are also documents that
have been submitted to us but as these are available on our website I have
not included them.
Annual Return 2004
Our records also show that we corresponded with the charity in relation to
the monitoring of its accounts in 2004. I have enclosed the relevant
information. Again you will see that some information has been redacted
under Section 40(2).
There is also a separate internal case log and a separate letter of
resignation from a trustee. Both of which I have enclosed subject to
Section 40 (2).
Governing document and accounts
As I mentioned I have not enclosed the accounts as these are available on
our website. I have enclosed the charity’s governing document – the
Memorandum and Articles of association incorporated 5th may 1983 as
amended by special resolutions dated 17th March 1991 and 19th November
2002 (also enclosed). I have also included the certificate of
incorporation on change of name.
Previous requests that you have made
There are a number of communications with you regarding previous FoI
requests that you have made. I have not included most of this information
as there is nothing here that you were not aware of or had not already
been provided to you. The only thing you may not have seen was the letter
that we wrote to the charity regarding the financial information that had
been submitted. I have included this subject to Section 40(2).
Charitable Status
I have located a couple of files on our system in which there were
internal discussions regarding an application from the charity to amend
its charitable objects and about the charitable status of this
organization.
There is some correspondence here that I have been unable to release as it
is privileged legal advice which is exempt from disclosure under the Act.
Exemption under Section 42
The details of privileged legal advice are exempt from disclosure under
Section 42 (1) of the Act. When applying this exemption, we must consider
whether the public interest in not releasing the information outweighs the
public interest in releasing the information.
The public interest in relying on the exemption is that it enables the
Commission to seek and receive clear, open and frank legal advice on
particular matters which arise. Making the Commission’s privileged legal
advice on a case by case or point by point basis available to the public
is likely to impact on the legal advisers’ ability to provide such legal
advice. This would hinder the Commission in exercising its regulatory
functions since it is essential that the Commission has access to clear
open and frank advice about the extent and limitations on its powers and
the legal context in which it finds itself. We have therefore concluded
that the public interest in withholding privileged legal advice outweighs
the public interest in disclosing it to the public.
There is however some information which is not subject to this exemption
and I have enclosed this. You will see that some information within has
been redacted. Again this is because it is considered personal information
and to release it would be contrary to the data protection principles
outlined in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998, so it has been
redacted under Section 40 (2) of the Act or because it would be considered
privileged legal advice exempt from disclosure under Section 42 (1) of the
Act. I would add that a lot of the documents that we held from that time
have now been destroyed in accordance with our records retention policy
and are simply no longer available.
I hope that this is sufficient for your needs. I would once again like to
apologise for the time that you have had to wait to receive a response to
this request. If you are unhappy with our response to the request you have
made, have a complaint about it or wish to request a review of this
decision, you should write to: Charity Commission Direct, PO Box 1227,
Liverpool, L69 3UG. Please state what it is you are dissatisfied with,
which will assist us when we review our response.
If after this, you remain unhappy with the decision, you can then apply
directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints
process. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FOI Manager
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Dear Mr Thackeray
Further information with regard to Greenfields Educational Trust request
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Dear Mr Thackeray
3rd email containing information for Greenfields Educational Trust request
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Dear Mr Thackeray
The 4th and final email in respect of Greenfields Educational Trust (with
information attached). I am sorry that I have had to send this to you
somewhat piecemeal. If anything is unclear please do contact me further.
As I have mentioned I will be responding shortly (but in the new year now)
on the outstanding requests for Narconon Trust and Narconon London, and
will also respond to your email regarding Narconon when I return to the
office in the new year.
Regards
Liam Carroll - Complaints and FOI Manager
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Dear Mr Thackeray
Thank you for your recent emails. I am now in a position to respond to the
request for information that you have made regarding the charity Narconon
Trust (1112230).
You have requested that the Commission provides internal and external
communications in respect of Narconon Trust and asked that we please
include letters, emails, faxes, memos, agenda, minutes, and notes of phone
calls and of meetings. You have also requested that we provide the
information in electronic format at the email address that you provided.
The Act imposes a duty, set out in section 1 (1) (a) to confirm or deny
whether we hold information of the description specified in your request.
In this instance I can confirm that we do hold such information. I must
emphasize, though, that the Act provides the right to information rather
than just general copies of correspondence. I have looked at what we hold
to see whether we can release it to you under the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act and my comments are as follows:
Annual Returns
I have enclosed the Annual Returns that we hold from 2007 up until 2010.
You will see that some personal information has been redacted under
Section 40 (2) of the Act. Some of the information within is considered
personal information and to release it would be contrary to the data
protection principles outlined in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act
1998.
Governance
I have enclosed the charity’s governing document, the Memorandum and
Articles of association incorporated 25 August 2005. I have also
included the certificate of incorporation.
There is information on some old case files that has been retained and I
will deal with each in turn.
Registration
There is a file relating to this organisation’s application for
registration as a charity. I have enclosed the information from within
this, other than the charity’s governing document which I have already
attached. You will see that some information has been redacted under
Section 40 (2) of the Act. Again this is because it would be considered
personal information and to release it would be contrary to the data
protection principles explained above.
Also available was a letter from the Commission from 2003 regarding the
charity Narconon. This explains the findings from the Commission’s review
of the purposes and activities of Narconon. While this does not appear to
refer to the Narconon Trust individually it has been placed on this file,
possibly as it may contain information of interest to the Narconon
charities as a group. This has been released subject to certain
redactions, again under Section 40 (2) of the Act.
Complaints about the charity.
There is a file from 2008 regarding an allegation that the charity may be
trading while insolvent. Again I must be clear that the Act does not
entitle a requestor to copies of all correspondence or papers but rather
to information. I have attached the information from this file which would
meet your request for internal and external communications.
This has been released subject to certain redactions under Section 40 (2)
of the Act as explained above.
There is also some information regarding a complaint from 2008 about the
charitable status of Narconon and scientology. I have enclosed this
information subject to certain redactions under Section 40 (2).
There are within both these case files some internal assessment sheets and
case reports. These have not been released as it is considered to be
exempt information in that its disclosure under the Act could be
considered as likely to prejudice the exercise by a public authority of
its functions for those purposes listed in section 31(2) (f) and (g).
Disclosing information in relation to internal consideration and
preparation of internal reports may be considered as likely to prejudice
the exercise of our functions, in inhibiting free and frank exchange in
consideration of the extent of our regulatory work and also in compiling
information of a confidential nature.
When applying the exemption under Section 31, we must consider whether the
public interest in not releasing the information outweighs the public
interest in releasing the information. The public interest in public
authorities being open and transparent must be balanced against the public
interest in ensuring that the charitable sector is subject to efficient
regulation so as to prevent misapplication of charitable funds and abuse.
On balance in this instance we have concluded that the public interest in
withholding the internal assessment sheets and case reports outweighs the
public interest in disclosing it to the public.
A wider search of our electronic records has identified some other
information relating to this request which do not appear to be part of a
specific Commission case for this charity. This includes:
· Comments from a member of the public on the status of Narconon.
This is enclosed but has been redacted in accordance with Section 40 (2).
· A request from the charity correspondent for information under
the Freedom of Information Act.
· An internal briefing arising in the course of the Commission
undertaking its regulatory functions. As explained above this is not
released as it is considered to be exempt information in that its
disclosure under the Act could be considered as likely to prejudice the
exercise by a public authority of its functions for those purposes listed
in section 31(2) (f) and (g).
Based on the reasoning detailed above we have on balance, in this
instance, concluded that the public interest in withholding the internal
briefing outweighs the public interest in disclosing it to the public.
· A document clarifying the charities on the register with the
names Narconon. This was as a result of information received from a third
party. I have attached documents subject to Section 40 (2).
I hope that this is sufficient for your needs. I would once again like to
apologise for the time that you have had to wait to receive a response to
this request. If you are unhappy with our response to the request you have
made, have a complaint about it or wish to request a review of this
decision, you should write to: Charity Commission Direct, PO Box 1227,
Liverpool, L69 3UG. Please state what it is you are dissatisfied with,
which will assist us when we review our response.
If after this, you remain unhappy with the decision, you can then apply
directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints
process. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FOI Manager
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Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon (267386)
I apologise once again for the time that it is taking to complete these
requests for information. As you will see I have now responded with regard
to your request relating to the Narconon Trust (1112230). I am currently
working on the request for Narconon London (1098004) and expect this to be
with you soon.
I appreciate the clarity you have provided in respect of your request
regarding the charity Narconon (267386). The information held by the
Commission is primarily available either through the retention of older
paper files or its electronic records. More recently, it is likely, that a
new issue or correspondence would have resulted in a new case being
established with reference to the registered charity number, and this
would have noted what the specific issues of the case were i.e. governance
issues or, perhaps, complaints about a charity. Under its records
retention policy the Commission may well destroy files after a period of
time, which itself is dependent on the nature of the case papers and the
status of the charity.
However, I do think that the clarity that you have provided in your re-
framed request should enable me to proceed. It appears to me that
essentially what you would like is information relating to the charitable
status of Narconon. I will of course take into account all the bullet
points that you have submitted but if you feel that I have misunderstood
your request in any way please let me know.
I am in the process of gathering together the information that we have in
respect of the re-framed request that you have made. I hope to be in a
position to respond shortly.
Kind regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FOI Manager
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Dear Mr Thackeray.
Please find my response with regard the request you have made for Narconon
London. Given the amount of information here I will need to send this to
you in separate emails over the next few days (as the size of the files
will be too large for me to send as one). I will confirm when the final
email has been sent.
I will be responding on the request you have made for Narconon very
shortly.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon London
Thank you for your recent emails. I am now in a position to respond to the
request for information that you have made regarding the charity Narconon
London (1098004).
You have requested that the Commission provides internal and external
communications in respect of Narconon London and asked that we please
include letters, emails, faxes, memos, agenda, minutes, and notes of phone
calls and of meetings. You have also requested that we provide the
information in electronic format at the email address that you provided.
The Act imposes a duty, set out in section 1 (1) (a) to confirm or deny
whether we hold information of the description specified in your request.
In this instance I can confirm that we do hold such information. I must
emphasize though that the Act provides the right to information rather
than just general copies of correspondence. I have looked at what we hold
to see whether we can release it to you under the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act and my comments are as follows:
Annual Returns
I have enclosed the Annual Returns that we hold from 2007 and 2008. There
is also an earlier version from 2007. You will see that some personal
information has been redacted under Section 40 (2) of the Act. Some of the
information within is considered personal information and to release it
would be contrary to the data protection principles outlined in Schedule 1
of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Governance/Accounts
I have attached the charity’s Governing Document, the Memorandum and
Articles of association incorporated 16 October 2001 as amended by special
resolution dated 30 April 2003 (also attached). I have also included the
certificate of incorporation.
I have located and released a copy of the charity’s accounts for the
financial year end December 2009. As the charity’s accounts for 2006 to
2008 are available on our website at [1]www.charitycommission.gov.uk I
have not attached them.
There is information on some case files that has been retained and I will
deal with each in turn.
Registration
There is a file relating to this organisation’s application for
registration as a charity. I have attached the letter which accompanied
the charity’s application dated 1 May 2003, which has been redacted in
accordance with the need to protect personal information under Section 40
(2). The application and trustees’ declaration is attached subject to
redactions under S40 (2)
On the material that was submitted with this letter I have attached the
newsletter, the accreditation and the letters of support from Senators and
Congressmen. These are subject to some redactions under S40 (2). I have
not enclosed the notice from Winchester Crown Court as this has not been
retained as is no longer available.
There is also a letter from the Commission dated 27 May 2003 requesting
further information and a telephone note dated 30 May 2003. The response
dated 4 June 2003 is also released (all of these have been subject to
reactions under Section 40 (2)). With the letter of the 4 June there was
also some accounts from 2001 for Narconon (released), a leaflet (which has
not been retained and is no longer available) and a copy of a lease
relating to the charity’s property at the time the application was made.
I have not released the lease as it is considered that this may prejudice
the commercial interests of those that were party to it, and that it is
therefore exempt under Section 43 (2) of the Act. When applying this
exemption we must consider whether the public interest in not releasing
the information outweighs the public interest in releasing the
information. On balance in this instance we have concluded that the public
interest in withholding the lease outweighs the public interest in
disclosing it.
The special resolution and Memorandum mentioned has been released as
above. Finally there is a registration case direction sheet which I have
released subject to S40 (2).
Complaint about the charity.
There is a file from 2005 regarding a complaint about the charity. Again
I must be clear that the Act does not entitle a requestor to copies of all
correspondence or papers but rather to information. In this respect I
think it may be more appropriate if I inform you of the nature of this
case rather than look to provide the documents available.
In this instance the Commission received a complaint about the services
provided by the charity and the costs incurred by the complainants. The
matter was not pursued by the Commission as it was considered that this
was a contractual dispute and therefore an internal matter for the
trustees to resolve.
Previous contact /information.
There are cases relating to your previous requests for information. I have
not included this information as it will all have been provided to you
previously; other than some advice received from the Commission’s legal
department which will be exempt as it is considered privileged legal
advice under Section 42 of the Act.
Annual Return case
There is also a case regarding the charity’s annual return information
from 2007, culminating in a further version. I have released this subject
to some redactions under Section 40 (2) of the Act.
A wider search of our electronic records has identified some other
information relating to this request which do not appear to be part of a
specific Commission case for this charity. This includes the following:
· A letter from the Commission regarding Narconon dated 17 April
2003, which also refers to information required to register Narconon
London. I have released this subject to some redactions under Section 40
(2).
· There was also some information which has overlapped with the
earlier request you have made regarding Narconon Trust. As this
information has been dealt with under that request I have not attached it
here.
· An email from the Chair of trustees informing the Commission of a
change of address.
· A reminder from the Commission to the trustees dated 14 February
2011, regarding an overdue annual return.
· There is an internal case memo regarding the submission of Annual
Returns for this charity and Narconon.
· An internal memo in which reference is made to the possible
registration of Narconon London (All of these have been released subject
to some redactions under S40 (2).
· There is an internal chart showing connections between the
charity and other organisations. This is not released as it is considered
to be exempt information in that its disclosure under the Act could be
considered as likely to prejudice the exercise by a public authority of
its functions for those purposes listed in section 31(2) (f) and (g) of
the Act.
Disclosing information in relation to internal consideration and
preparation of internal reports may be considered as likely to prejudice
the exercise of our functions, in inhibiting free and frank exchange in
consideration of the extent of our regulatory work and also in compiling
information of a confidential nature.
When applying the exemption under Section 31, we must consider whether the
public interest in not releasing the information outweighs the public
interest in releasing the information. The public interest in public
authorities being open and transparent must be balanced against the public
interest in ensuring that the charitable sector is subject to efficient
regulation so as to prevent misapplication of charitable funds and abuse.
On balance in this instance we have concluded that the public interest in
withholding the internal chart outweighs the public interest in disclosing
it.
o Finally there is also some information in relation to a complaint that
was received in 2009 regarding the three charities registered with the
name Narconon. I have released the letter that was sent to the
Commission dated 21 May 2009 and the copy letters that were enclosed
with this, subject to redactions under Section 40(2), together with
the significant amount of information that was submitted from internet
sources.
I hope that this is sufficient for your needs. I would once again like to
apologise for the time that you have had to wait to receive a response to
this request. If you are unhappy with our response to the request you have
made, have a complaint about it or wish to request a review of this
decision, you should write to: Charity Commission Direct, PO Box 1227,
Liverpool, L69 3UG. Please state what it is you are dissatisfied with,
which will assist us when we review our response.
If after this, you remain unhappy with the decision, you can then apply
directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints
process. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FOI Manager
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References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/
Many thanks, Liam - I appreciate your assistance.
When you send the final email, could you please include a count of how many attachments I should have received - that way I'll be able to check that I've got them all.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon London
Thank you for your email.
Here is the second attachment in relation to the Narconon London request.
This is the application for registration form. This is the document that
has taken up most space and because of this I have had to reformat it and
send it like this. It does though contain everything from the form other
than personal information that has been redacted.
I will of course let you know when I have sent the final email and include
a summary of what I have sent, including the total number of attachments
that you should have received.
Regards
Liam Carroll
<<Application for registration.doc>>
On track to meet your filing deadline? Charities have ten months from
their financial year end to file their Annual Return and Accounts. Find
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Dear Mr Thackeray
The third set of attachments in response to your request - Naronon London
Regards
Liam Carroll
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Dear Mr Thackeray
The fourth attachment re your request - Narconon London
Regards
Liam Carroll
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Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon London (1098004)
Please find the fifth and final email with attachments in relation to your
FoI request for the above charity. You should now have received:
1. an initial email explaining the information provided with 7 attachments
- Annual Return (AR) 2007 (9 pages) Resubmitted AR 2007 (9) AR 2008 (10)
Memorandum (15) Special Resolution (1) Certificate of Incorporation (1)
Narconon London Accounts 2009 (16 (including intro information)).
2. 1 attachment - Application for Registration (25 pages)
3. 10 attachments - Application letter (1 May 03 - 2 pages) Trustees
declaration (4) newsletter (2) letters of support (6) accreditation (1)
Commission letter (27 May 03 -3) telephone memo (30 May 03 - 1) letter
from charity (4 June - 2) Narconon Accounts 2001 (5 including cover
page/s) internal case sheet (3).
4. 10 attachments - Papers relating to AR submission (2) letter from
charity (17 April 03 - 1) email re change of address (1) Commission letter
re overdue AR (14 Feb 11 - 1) Internal case log (1) Memo dated 11 January
02 (1) Complaint letter (dated 21 May 09 - 2) enclosure letters (21 May 09
- 1) and 13 May 09 (5) submitted email information (24 pages)
5. 1 attachment - further submitted email information ( 45 pages).
Thank you again for the patience you have shown in awaiting our response.
I will be responding on the reframed request regarding Narconon very
shortly.
Kind regards
Liam Carroll - Complaints and FOI Manager
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Hi Liam,
Re your email earlier today with the attached document 'Application for registration.doc': something seems to have gone wrong with the scan on page 17 (part 3 of the registration form), the lower half of the scan is illegible.
Could you please re-scan / re-send?
It's a particularly important page because it deals with Narconon's activities, so it's rather relevant to see whether they disclose that one of their primary activities is recruiting to Scientology what in Scientology jargon is known as 'raw meat' (i.e. persons who have never had Scientology processing).
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Hi Liam,
Also, re this information:
"information in relation to a complaint that was received in 2009 regarding the three charities registered with the name Narconon"
which was in the 5th attachment:
You've included the letter which was incoming to the Charity Commission, but (unless I've missed it) there's no sign of any response to the letter.
Presumably the Charity Commission wrote a reply, or took some action? Or at least made a decision whether or not to take some action? I'd be grateful if you could send over documents relating to that.
Thanks again for your assistance with this matter.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Dear Mr Thackeray
Thank you for your response. My apologies, I had missed the problem on
page 23 of the application for registration. I have now attached the full
version of part 3 (4 pages).
On the other point you have raised, regarding the letter to the Commission
dated 21 May 2009, I understand that you would like to know whether the
Commission responded and, if so, what form that response took.
Unfortunately there was no further information available. This information
came to light as a result of a wider search of our electronic records and
was isolated from other case related files. I could find nothing further
within my Narconon London search that would clarify this.
I will, though, take it forward as I look to finalise your request for
Narconon, either as part of that request or a new request. This may shed
some light on this as the issue was raised about all of the Narconon
charities.
Kind regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FoI Manager This email and any files transmitted with it
are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in
error please notify the sender and delete the original message from your
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Dear Mr Thackeray
Please find my response with regard to the request that you have made for
Narconon (267386). I will again need to send this to you in separate
emails because of the size of the files. As before I will confirm when the
final email has been sent and detail what you should have received.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon (267386)
Thank you for your recent emails. I am now in a position to respond to the
request for information that you have made regarding the charity Narconon
(267386).
You have made the following request:
1. What claims Narconon made to the Commission to support its
position that it should be allowed to register as a charity, either
at the time of registration or subsequently.
2. What enquiries (if any) the Commission undertook in order to
verify the truth of these claims, and what the results of those
enquiries were.
3. What other information (if any) the Commission sought outside of
that provided by Narconon, in respect of its eligibility for
registration.
4. Other information which may have been provided by Narconon,
either at the time of registration or later, in respect of
· the purported efficacy of Narconon's 'treatment',
· Narconon's purported independence from Scientology.’
Essentially I have taken this to mean that you would like information sent
to the Commission by the charity, or asked for by the Commission, relating
to the charitable status of Narconon. I have, though, taken into account
all the bullet points submitted. If you think that I have misunderstood
your request in any way please do let me know.
The Freedom of Information Act imposes a duty, set out in section 1 (1)
(a) to confirm or deny whether we hold information of the description
specified in your request. In this instance I should clarify that some
Commission files, including the registration file, have been destroyed in
accordance with the Commission’s records retention policy. This will
clearly have an impact on the response that can be provided as the
information on these files is no longer available. I can confirm, though,
that we do hold some information that would fall under this request
although I must emphasize that the Act provides the right to information
rather than just general copies of correspondence.
I have looked at what we hold in relation to the request that you have
made to see whether we can release it to you under the provisions of the
Act and my comments are as follows:
Compliance case
There is a file from 2007 regarding an article from a Sunday newspaper. As
I have mentioned the Act does not entitle a requestor to copies of all
correspondence or papers but rather to information. In this respect I
think it may be more appropriate that I inform you of the nature of this
case rather than look to provide all the documents available. It should
also be clear that many of the documents do not actually fall under the
request as it is framed.
The article made claims about the relationship between the charity and the
Church of Scientology. As a result of this the Commission’s compliance
department asked for clarity on how the charity was fulfilling its
charitable objectives, in particular for promotional material used when
visiting schools and for any child protection policy that the charity may
have. This was provided and the case was closed.
Looking at the paperwork available here I have provided the following:
o At the start of the file is a copy of the letter from the Commission
to the Treasury Solicitors dated 10 July 2003. This explains the
findings from the Commission’s earlier review of the purposes and
activities of Narconon and was released previously when responding to
your request regarding the Narconon Trust. I have released this again
subject to certain redactions, in accordance with the need to protect
personal information under Section 40 (2).
o A copy of the Commission’s letter to the charity dated 17 January
2007. Redacted in accordance with S40 (2).
o There is a copy of the charity’s response to the Commission dated 12
February 2007. I have released this and the enclosures which were sent
with it subject to some redactions under S40 (2).
o Commission letter to the charity dated 14 February 2007. Redacted in
accordance with S40 (2).
Key Document file
There is a considerable amount of information that has been placed on the
charity’s key document file. This is a file upon which certain documents
regarding the charity, which are considered necessary to retain, are
placed. In this instance there are several documents sent by the charity
which refer to how it achieves its objects. I am unclear when this
information was submitted but it seems likely that it may have been during
the compliance case (explained above) or sent at another time, perhaps at
registration stage, or possibly in connection with the policy case
(discussed below).
Regardless of this, though, I consider that the information falls under
the terms of the request that you have made and has been released subject
to certain redactions made under Section 40 (2). The first page is an
index of the information and this explains what was received.
A wider search of our electronic records has identified other information
relating to this request which does not appear to be part of a specific
Commission case for this charity. This includes the following:
Policy case
There are some papers which have been retained by the Commission’s Policy
department regarding a case from 2003. The purpose of this appears to have
been to assess the efficacy of how the charity was achieving its objects
and the case appears to have concluded with the letter from the Commission
to the Treasury Solicitors dated 10 July 2003 (already released).
I think it may be useful to explain that for the purposes of this case the
Commission appears to have carried out a degree of web based research and
considered historical information from files which are no longer
available. I should also stress that some papers have not been retained
and not everything would appear available. From what has been retained I
have considered the following fall under the request:
o Charity Commission letters dated:
16 August 2001, 25 August 2002, 10 December 2002, 18 March 2003, 3 April
2003, 17 April 2003 and 2 July 2003.
o Interview memorandum from meeting between the Commission and Narconon
representatives dated 8 August 2002.
I have released this information subject to certain redactions under
Section 40 (2) of the Act.
There is alongside this some information relating to the legal advice
received. I am not sure but strictly speaking this would not appear to
fall under the request as it is framed. However this would not be released
as it would be considered privileged legal advice exempt from disclosure
under Section 42 of the Act. When applying this exemption, we must
consider whether the public interest in not releasing the information
outweighs the public interest in releasing the information.
The public interest in relying on the exemption is that it enables the
Commission to seek and receive clear, open and frank legal advice on
particular matters which arise. Making the Commission’s privileged legal
advice on a case by case or point by point basis available to the public
is likely to impact on the legal advisers’ ability to provide such legal
advice. This would hinder the Commission in exercising its regulatory
functions since it is essential that the Commission has access to clear
open and frank advice about the extent and limitations on its powers and
the legal context in which it finds itself. We have therefore concluded
that the public interest in withholding privileged legal advice outweighs
the public interest in disclosing it.
I can see, though, that during 2002 some consideration was given to the
Narconon International website and the Home Office website drugs.gov.uk.
Separate to this, but relevant to your request, there is also an
electronic record of some legal advice from 2003 and legal guidance from
1997. I have not released this as the information is considered exempt
under Section 42 for the reasons given above.
Finally I have looked to see if we hold any more information with regard
to the letter sent to us dated 21 May 2009 and released to you under your
request for Narconon London. You have asked to see the reply that was sent
by the Commission or details of any decision on whether or not to take
action. This information was also available under the search I did for
Narconon, unfortunately though I can find no further information in
respect of how the Commission dealt with this, nor can I confirm or deny
whether there ever was any. I cannot then provide the information you have
requested as we do not hold it.
I hope that this is sufficient for your needs. I would once again like to
offer my sincere apologies for the time that you have had to wait to
receive a response to your requests, and thank you for the patience that
you have shown.
If you are unhappy with our response to the request you have made, have a
complaint about it or wish to request a review of this decision, you
should write to: Charity Commission Direct, PO Box 1227, Liverpool, L69
3UG. Please state what it is you are dissatisfied with, which will assist
us when we review our response.
If after this, you remain unhappy with the decision, you can then apply
directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints
process. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FOI Manager
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solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
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Dear Mr Thackeray
The 2nd email in response to your request re Narconon
Liam Carroll
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Dear Mr Thackeray
The 3rd email in response to your request re Narconon
Liam Carroll
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Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon (267386)
Please find the fourth and final email with attachments in relation to
your FoI request for the above charity. You should now have received:
1. An initial email explaining the information provided with 9
attachments. CC letter 10 July 03 – CC letter 17 Jan 07 – Charity Response
12 Feb 07 – Charity leaflet – Charity letter to Schools – Child Protection
Policy – Trustee’s Policy Guidance – Schools satisfaction survey – CC
letter 14 Feb 07.
2. Information from the Key Document file – including Index and
documents 1 – 6.
3. Information from the Key Document file – documents 7 & 8.
4. 8 attachments. CC letters – 16 August 01, 25 April 02, 10 December
02, 18 March 03, 3 April 03, 17 April 03, 2 July 03 and Interview Memo 8
August 02.
Kind regards
Liam Carroll – Complaints and FOI Manager
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Dear Liam,
All attachments received with thanks.
Please accept my gratitude for your invaluable assistance with this case - the information provided is very useful.
I was expecting to see, somewhere in the details for one or other of these charities (the corporate structure is a little convoluted) details of the 'Narconon UK Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Centre', residential premises in St Leonards-on-Sea where Scientology purports to undertake drug rehabilitation:
http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/contact_us.htm
Is there any info available relating to the St Leonards-on-Sea facility?
Thanks again, and best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
William Thackeray
Dear Mr Thackeray
Narconon charities
Thank you for your email dated 21 February. I am sorry that I could not
respond sooner. I understand from this, and following on from your earlier
request, that you would like any information relating to the Narconon UK
Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Centre based at St Leonards-on-Sea. I
have considered this request under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.
The Freedom of Information Act imposes a duty, set out in section 1 (1)
(a) to confirm or deny whether we hold information of the description
specified in your request.
Working through the information we hold I can see that there is some
information on file in which this facility is mentioned. I should, though,
initially refer to my most recent response and the explanation I gave that
some Commission files have been destroyed in accordance with the
Commission’s records retention policy. I think that this may have an
impact on what you were expecting to see as many of these files, and the
information within, are no longer available.
The St Leonards-on-Sea address is mentioned in the accounts for the
charities Narconon (267386), Narconon Trust (1112230) and Narconon London
(1098004). These are available on our website at
[1]www.charitycommission.gov.uk. I cannot, though, find any further
information on this facility within the papers that we hold for
Greenfields Educational Trust or Narconon London.
We do hold some information which refers to this facility in the papers
that we have for Narconon and Narconon Trust. This is held in connection
with cases that I have mentioned in my earlier responses. The information
on this is limited and appears to have been acquired as a result of web
based research undertaken by the Commission. I had not included this
previously as it did not appear to fall under the request as it was not a
communication with the charity. I have now, though, included all of the
web based research pages that were contained on the files regardless of
whether these are linked to the request relating to this facility.
This includes:
For the Narconon Trust there was a case I mentioned about a complaint
about the charity trading while insolvent. On this file there were some
papers relating to web based research from November 2007, taken from
[2]www.drugrehab.co.uk and [3]www.narconon.org
For Narconon there was a case regarding an article from a Sunday
newspaper. On this file there was the Sunday Times online article, as well
as some papers referring to web based research from January 2007, taken
from the following sources; the Edinburgh Evening News,
[4]www.freedom.org.uk, [5]www.urban75.com, [6]www.drugrehab.org.uk,
www.fair-cult-concern.co.uk and Society Guardian.co.uk
As I mentioned the references to the Leonard on Sea facility are limited
but given that all of this information was available and in the public
domain at the time, I have released it. Other than this I can find no
further information in respect of this facility.
I hope that this is sufficient for your needs. If you are unhappy with our
response to the request that you have made, have a complaint about it or
wish to request a review of this decision, you should write to: Charity
Commission Direct, PO Box 1227, Liverpool, L69 3UG. Please state what it
is you are dissatisfied with, which will assist us when we review our
response.
If after this, you remain unhappy with the decision, you can then apply
directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints
process. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Regards
Liam Carroll
Complaints and FOI Manager
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the sender and
delete the original message from your system.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/
2. http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/
3. http://www.narconon.org/
4. http://www.freedom.org.uk/
5. http://www.urban75.com/
6. http://www.drugrehab.org.uk/
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William Thackeray left an annotation ()
Referred to ICO.