Copy of contract with Capita Business Services Ltd
Dear British Broadcasting Corporation,
I understand that the BBC contracted with Capita Business Services Limited in 2012 to administer the collection of TV Licence fees and the enforcement of the television licensing system.
Please could you provide me with a copy of the contract between the BBC/TV Licensing and Capita Business Services Ltd.
If you consider that the contract contains information exempt from disclosure under, for example, the following sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2000:
Section 30 – investigations
Section 31 – prejudice to law enforcement
Section 40(2) – data protection
Section 43 – trade secrets and prejudice to commercial interests
I would disagree with this assertion. Television licence fee payers fund Capita's fees and any other remuneration under the contract. Furthermore, citizens up and down the UK without a TV Licence are liable to receive threatening letters and home visits by Capita staff. It is extremely important that we know the terms under which TV Licensing's main contractor is operating as it affects all of us.
In my opinion, the public interest in disclosing the contract far outweighs the public interest in maintaining any of the exemptions.
If I am wrong, please could you send me the contract with the exempt information redacted as appropriate.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Richards
Dear Mr Richards
Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as detailed in your email below. Your request was received on 21 December 2013. We will deal with your request as promptly as possible, and at the latest within 20 working days. If you have any queries about your request, please contact us at the address below.
The reference number for your request is RFI20131947
Kind regards
The Information Policy & Compliance Team
BBC Freedom of Information
BC2B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP
www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2882
Fax: 020 8008 2398
Dear Mr Richards,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20131947
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the
Act”) date 21 December 2013 requesting the following:
“ I understand that the BBC contracted with Capita Business Services
Limited in 2012 to administer the collection of TV Licence fees and the
enforcement of the television licensing system.
Please could you provide me with a copy of the contract between the BBC/TV
Licensing and Capita Business Services Ltd.
If you consider that the contract contains information exempt from
disclosure under, for example, the following sections of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000:
Section 30 – investigations
Section 31 – prejudice to law enforcement
Section 40(2) – data protection
Section 43 – trade secrets and prejudice to commercial interests
I would disagree with this assertion. Television licence fee payers fund
Capita's fees and any other remuneration under the contract. Furthermore,
citizens up and down the UK without a TV Licence are liable to receive
threatening letters and home visits by Capita staff. It is extremely
important that we know the terms under which TV Licensing's main
contractor is operating as it affects all of us.
In my opinion, the public interest in disclosing the contract far
outweighs the public interest in maintaining any of the exemptions.
If I am wrong, please could you send me the contract with the exempt
information redacted as appropriate.”
I apologise but we are currently not in a position to respond to your
request.
I can confirm that we have reviewed the relevant recorded information and
we consider that the exemptions in sections 31, s40(2), s43(1), s43(2) and
s44(1)(a) apply to multiple parts of the information you have requested.
We now need further time in which to consider the public interest in
disclosing the information.
The Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly and in any case no
longer than 20 working days after receiving the request. However, when a
qualified exemption applies to the information and the public interest
test is engaged, section 10 of the Act allows the time for a response to
be longer than 20 working days. A full response must be provided within
such time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case.
I sincerely apologise any inconvenience caused by the delay.
Kind regards,
The Information Policy & Compliance Team
BBC Freedom of Information
BC2B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP
[1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [2][BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2882
Fax: 020 8008 2398
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.bbc.co.uk/foi
2. mailto:[BBC request email]
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Dear Mr Richards,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20131947
I write further to my email on 22^nd January 2014.
I apologise but we are currently not in a position to respond to your
request. By way of update, we are progressing through the steps necessary
to respond to your request.
We endeavour to provide you with a response no later than the 11^th March
2014.
We would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we are dealing
with your request as expeditiously as our resources permit. I sincerely
apologise for the continued delay and for any inconvenience this may cause
you.
Yours sincerely
The Information Policy and Compliance Team
Information Policy and Compliance
Room BC2 B6 Broadcast Centre White City Wood Lane London W12 7TS
Tel: 020 8008 0183
Ext:80183
From: FOI Enquiries
Sent: 22 January 2014 15:51
To: '[FOI #190228 email]'
Subject: RFI20131947 - Update on your FOI request
Dear Mr Richards,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20131947
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the
Act”) date 21 December 2013 requesting the following:
“ I understand that the BBC contracted with Capita Business Services
Limited in 2012 to administer the collection of TV Licence fees and the
enforcement of the television licensing system.
Please could you provide me with a copy of the contract between the BBC/TV
Licensing and Capita Business Services Ltd.
If you consider that the contract contains information exempt from
disclosure under, for example, the following sections of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000:
Section 30 – investigations
Section 31 – prejudice to law enforcement
Section 40(2) – data protection
Section 43 – trade secrets and prejudice to commercial interests
I would disagree with this assertion. Television licence fee payers fund
Capita's fees and any other remuneration under the contract. Furthermore,
citizens up and down the UK without a TV Licence are liable to receive
threatening letters and home visits by Capita staff. It is extremely
important that we know the terms under which TV Licensing's main
contractor is operating as it affects all of us.
In my opinion, the public interest in disclosing the contract far
outweighs the public interest in maintaining any of the exemptions.
If I am wrong, please could you send me the contract with the exempt
information redacted as appropriate.”
I apologise but we are currently not in a position to respond to your
request.
I can confirm that we have reviewed the relevant recorded information and
we consider that the exemptions in sections 31, s40(2), s43(1), s43(2) and
s44(1)(a) apply to multiple parts of the information you have requested.
We now need further time in which to consider the public interest in
disclosing the information.
The Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly and in any case no
longer than 20 working days after receiving the request. However, when a
qualified exemption applies to the information and the public interest
test is engaged, section 10 of the Act allows the time for a response to
be longer than 20 working days. A full response must be provided within
such time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case.
I sincerely apologise any inconvenience caused by the delay.
Kind regards,
The Information Policy & Compliance Team
BBC Freedom of Information
BC2B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP
[1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [2][BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2882
Fax: 020 8008 2398
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.bbc.co.uk/foi
2. mailto:[BBC request email]
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Dear Mr Richards,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20131947
I write further to my email below which was sent on 19^th February 2014.
I apologies but we are still not in a position respond to your request. We
apologise for this continued delay and the inconvenience this may cause
you. We endeavour to provide you with a response soon.
Yours sincerely
Information Policy and Compliance
From: Nicolette Myrie
Sent: 19 February 2014 11:21
To: '[FOI #190228 email]'
Subject: RE: RFI20131947 - Update on your FOI request
Dear Mr Richards,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20131947
I write further to my email on 22^nd January 2014.
I apologise but we are currently not in a position to respond to your
request. By way of update, we are progressing through the steps necessary
to respond to your request.
We endeavour to provide you with a response no later than the 11^th March
2014.
We would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we are dealing
with your request as expeditiously as our resources permit. I sincerely
apologise for the continued delay and for any inconvenience this may cause
you.
Yours sincerely
The Information Policy and Compliance Team
Information Policy and Compliance
Room BC2 B6 Broadcast Centre White City Wood Lane London W12 7TS
Tel: 020 8008 0183
Ext:80183
From: FOI Enquiries
Sent: 22 January 2014 15:51
To: '[FOI #190228 email]'
Subject: RFI20131947 - Update on your FOI request
Dear Mr Richards,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20131947
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the
Act”) date 21 December 2013 requesting the following:
“ I understand that the BBC contracted with Capita Business Services
Limited in 2012 to administer the collection of TV Licence fees and the
enforcement of the television licensing system.
Please could you provide me with a copy of the contract between the BBC/TV
Licensing and Capita Business Services Ltd.
If you consider that the contract contains information exempt from
disclosure under, for example, the following sections of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000:
Section 30 – investigations
Section 31 – prejudice to law enforcement
Section 40(2) – data protection
Section 43 – trade secrets and prejudice to commercial interests
I would disagree with this assertion. Television licence fee payers fund
Capita's fees and any other remuneration under the contract. Furthermore,
citizens up and down the UK without a TV Licence are liable to receive
threatening letters and home visits by Capita staff. It is extremely
important that we know the terms under which TV Licensing's main
contractor is operating as it affects all of us.
In my opinion, the public interest in disclosing the contract far
outweighs the public interest in maintaining any of the exemptions.
If I am wrong, please could you send me the contract with the exempt
information redacted as appropriate.”
I apologise but we are currently not in a position to respond to your
request.
I can confirm that we have reviewed the relevant recorded information and
we consider that the exemptions in sections 31, s40(2), s43(1), s43(2) and
s44(1)(a) apply to multiple parts of the information you have requested.
We now need further time in which to consider the public interest in
disclosing the information.
The Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly and in any case no
longer than 20 working days after receiving the request. However, when a
qualified exemption applies to the information and the public interest
test is engaged, section 10 of the Act allows the time for a response to
be longer than 20 working days. A full response must be provided within
such time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case.
I sincerely apologise any inconvenience caused by the delay.
Kind regards,
The Information Policy & Compliance Team
BBC Freedom of Information
BC2B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP
[1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [2][BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2882
Fax: 020 8008 2398
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.bbc.co.uk/foi
2. mailto:[BBC request email]
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Dear Mr Richards,
Please find attached the response to your request for information,
reference RFI20131947. We apologise for the delay in issuing this response
to you and we accept that we have failed to meet the statutory 20-day
deadline on this occasion; we would also like to apologise for any
inconvenience caused by the delay.
Yours sincerely,
The Information Policy and Complaince Team
BBC Information Policy and Compliance
BC2B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP, UK
Website: [1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [2]mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2882
Fax: 020 8008 2398
References
Visible links
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi
2. mailto:[BBC request email]
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/
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Mr Hillas left an annotation ()
Quote:
"I apologise but we are currently not in a position to respond to your request.
I can confirm that we have reviewed the relevant recorded information and we consider that the exemptions in sections 31, s40(2), s43(1), s43(2) and s44(1)(a) apply to multiple parts of the information you have requested.
We now need further time in which to consider the public interest in disclosing the information."
When I read the above I could hardly believe my eyes. These matters were well and truly considered and resolved when the following FoI request was sent to the ICO for consideration and the ICO instructed the BBC to publish the information requested on a prior occasion when the TV Licensing contract between the BBC and Capita was requested.:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/t...
What could possibly be the problem in publishing the current TV Licensing contract between the BBC and Capita when the previous contract was published.
Honestly, the BBC FoI Team have zero institutional memory and seem to get more comically absurd with each FoI request lodged with them.