Forced Adoptions Figures

The request was refused by Bridgend County Borough Council.

Dear Bridgend Council,

In years 2006-7 2007-8 2008-9 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

1)How many placement orders were made during these periods where a child is to be placed for adoption against the wishes of the parent?
2)How many adoptions have taken place during these periods?
3)Of those adoptions how many were against the wishes of the parents.

Yours faithfully,

Gemma Williams

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01-777

 

We acknowledge your request for information received on 28 May 2012. 

 

We are considering your request and you should receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days, unless the information is
exempt or we require additional time to consider whether disclosure is in
the public interest in accordance with section 2 of the Freedom of
Information Act.

 

We will try to supply information in electronic format by email, but if
this is not possible we will let you know. If you have any special
requirements e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let us
know.

 

The Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the
information you have requested. Before we provide the information we will
consider whether it is proper to release it and if any of the exemption
categories do apply then the information will not be released. We will
tell you if this is the case, and will have a right of appeal.

 

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you. We will tell you if this is the case.

 

You may have to pay a fee for this information. We will consider this and
let you know. If so you will have to pay the fee before we process and
release the information. The 20 working day time limit for responses will
not start until we receive your payment.

 

If you have any queries or concerns, then please contact me directly.  You
can find out more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office – Wales     

2nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Telephone: 02920 678400         Fax: 02920 678399

Email: [email address]

http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.u...

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643473

Email: [1][Bridgend Council request email]

 

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foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Hi Ms Williams

 

The correct reference for your FOI request is X01-776 and not X01-777. 
Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience.

 

Tina 

 

--

Tina Delaney | Information Assistant

Legal and Regulatory Services

Bridgend County Borough Council | Civic Offices | Angel Street | Bridgend
| CF31 4WB

Phone / Ffôn: (01656) 643473 | Fax / Ffacs: (01656) 657899
Email / Ebost: [Bridgend Council request email]

Website / Gwefan: [1]www.bridgend.gov.uk

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: foi
Sent: 31 May 2012 10:43
To: Gemma Williams
Subject: FOI REQUEST X01-777

 

Dear Ms Williams

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01-777

 

We acknowledge your request for information received on 28 May 2012. 

 

We are considering your request and you should receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days, unless the information is
exempt or we require additional time to consider whether disclosure is in
the public interest in accordance with section 2 of the Freedom of
Information Act.

 

We will try to supply information in electronic format by email, but if
this is not possible we will let you know. If you have any special
requirements e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let us
know.

 

The Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the
information you have requested. Before we provide the information we will
consider whether it is proper to release it and if any of the exemption
categories do apply then the information will not be released. We will
tell you if this is the case, and will have a right of appeal.

 

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you. We will tell you if this is the case.

 

You may have to pay a fee for this information. We will consider this and
let you know. If so you will have to pay the fee before we process and
release the information. The 20 working day time limit for responses will
not start until we receive your payment.

 

If you have any queries or concerns, then please contact me directly.  You
can find out more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office – Wales     

2nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Telephone: 02920 678400         Fax: 02920 678399

Email: [email address]

http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.u...

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643473

Email: [2][Bridgend Council request email]

 

show quoted sections

Dear foi,

I am writing regarding a FOI request I sent to Bridgend Council. By law the authority should normally have responded promptly and by 26th June 2012 however I have received no reply from this authority.

Yours sincerely,

Gemma Williams

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams

The 20 working day deadline for response for this request is 27 June 2012. I can confirm that the Authority's response is being drafted and will be sent to you today.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact.

Many thanks.

Tina

--

Tina Delaney | Information Assistant

Legal and Regulatory Services

Bridgend County Borough Council | Civic Offices | Angel Street | Bridgend | CF31 4WB

Phone / Ffôn: (01656) 643473 | Fax / Ffacs: (01656) 657899
Email / Ebost: [Bridgend Council request email]

Website / Gwefan: www.bridgend.gov.uk

show quoted sections

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01- 776

 

We refer to your email dated 25 May 2012 which contained a request for
information as set out in italics below.  Following consideration of your
request, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I respond
to each point as follows:

 

In years 2006-7 2007-8 2008-9 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

 

1)         How many placement orders were made during these periods where
a child is to be placed for adoption against the wishes of the parent?

 

            Please see table below.

 

2)         How many adoptions have taken place during these periods?

           

Please see table below.

 

3                    Of those adoptions how many were against the wishes
of the parents.

 

The Authority does not hold this information. 

 

 

  06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12
Placement Orders 14 20 14 11 21 23
Children Adopted 14 20 18 15 12 15

 

I hope this response satisfies your request. If you are dissatisfied with
the handling of the request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you
have the right to request a review of the Council’s response to your
request for information.  If you wish to request a review, please write
to:

 

Mr P A Jolley

Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services

& Monitoring Officer

Bridgend County Borough Council

Civic Offices,

Angel Street

Bridgend, CF31 4WB

 

within 28 days of the date of this letter.  If you remain dissatisfied
with the outcome of that review, you may seek further recourse by lodging
an appeal with the Information Commissioner at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office – Wales

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Tel:  02920 678400

Fax:  02920 678399

E:mail : [1][email address]

Website:  [2]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

 

Yours sincerely

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643473

Email: [Bridgend Council request email]

 

 

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Dear Bridgend Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Bridgend Council's handling of my FOI request 'Forced Adoptions Figures'.

You claim you do not hold figures for the amount of children adopted against the wishes of the parent, I would like to inform Bridgend Council that they have not been signled out with his request and other councils have forwarded their figures as per the law.

Could you please explain to me why your council does not hold this information when other councils do, also if you still claim not to hold this information maybe you could tell me who is monitoring the situation and where these figures can be obtained.

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

Yours faithfully,

Gemma Williams

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams

 

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail received on 29 June
2012 in which you requested a review of the Authority’s response to the
above Freedom of Information request.  I can confirm that I have initiated
the process for carrying out the review and I will be writing to you again
shortly.

 

Tina

 

--

Tina Delaney | Information Assistant

Legal and Regulatory Services

Bridgend County Borough Council | Civic Offices | Angel Street | Bridgend
| CF31 4WB

Phone / Ffôn: (01656) 643473 | Fax / Ffacs: (01656) 657899
Email / Ebost: [Bridgend Council request email]

Website / Gwefan: [1]www.bridgend.gov.uk

 

show quoted sections

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams,  

 

REVIEW OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

 

I write in response to your e mail correspondence of 28 June 2012
requesting a review of the Authority’s refusal to disclose information in
relation to the following request:

 

“Of those adoptions how many were against the wishes of the parents.”

 

In response to this request you were advised that the Authority does not
hold this information.   

 

Having reviewed your request for information, I am satisfied that the
Authority, has responded correctly.   This data is not captured and cannot
be retrieved from case papers as the consent of the parents is dispensed
with at the time of the granting of a Placement Order and therefore the
question of the adoption being against their wishes is not collated as by
this time it is no longer an issue.  Unless a parent is consenting to
adoption, the majority of care proceedings which result in a Placement
Order would have been adversarial in nature.

 

You will be aware that you may appeal this decision to the Information
Commissioner who may be contacted at:

 

            Information Commissioner’s Office Wales

            Cambrian Buildings

            Mount Stuart Square

            Cardiff, CF10 5FL

 

           Tel:  02920 2044 8044            Email :
[1][email address]

            Fax:  02920 2044 8045           Website: 
[2]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Laura Griffiths

For Mr P A Jolley,

Assistant Chief Executive Legal & Regulatory Services

 

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Dear foi,

I received an email yesterday from David Michael - Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The response read as follows (I was quick enough to take a copy of the response and store it)

"Dear Ms. Williams,

I have sent an email to the Social Services officers requesting some
comment on your "appeal". When I receive a response to that I should be
in a position to deal with the matter.

David Michael - Head of Legal and Democratic Services"

Today It was clear that Bridgend Council had sent another response (I have the email) however today's response AND yesterdays response from David Michael HAS BEEN REMOVED!

I would like to know why you are withdrawing your responses in this manner and if you believe your behaviour in this matter to be legal?!

Yours sincerely,

Gemma Williams

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams

The review below was undertaken on behalf of Mr P A Jolley - Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services - Bridgend County Borough Council.

We are not aware of any response from Mr David Michael as he is not the Head of Legal for Bridgend County Borough Council.

Tina

--

Tina Delaney | Information Assistant

Legal and Regulatory Services

Bridgend County Borough Council | Civic Offices | Angel Street | Bridgend | CF31 4WB

Phone / Ffôn: (01656) 643473 | Fax / Ffacs: (01656) 657899
Email / Ebost: [Bridgend Council request email]

Website / Gwefan: www.bridgend.gov.uk

show quoted sections

Dear foi,

That is a very interesting response. You claim that "We are not aware of any response from Mr David Michael as he is not the Head of Legal for Bridgend County Borough Council." I would like to make Bridgend Council aware that I have a copy of the response from this person and I also have in my posession a response to another request by another researcher and the response is again from Mr David Michael, Head of legal and democratic services.

Could Bridgend Council please explain how this is possible? Why is someone in Bridgend Council falsely replying to FOI requests with a ficticious job title.

Would you please also confirm if Mr David Micheal does work for Bridgend Council and what his job title is.

You can expect a further FOI request in relation to this.

Yours sincerely,

Gemma Williams

Dear foi,

I am perplexed by your response to my FOI internal review request.

Could you please clarify if you do or do not hold this information in your department.

If you DO hold this information please could you send me a legal refusal of my request stating under which section of the FOI Act you are basing the refusal on this if for my research and records.

If you DO NOT hold the information could you please direct me to the correct department to obtain these figures.

Yours sincerely,

Gemma Williams

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams,
The Authority has completed its review of your Freedom of Information request. If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of that review, you may seek further recourse by lodging an appeal with the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner’s Office – Wales
2nd Floor
Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH
Tel: 02920 678400
Fax: 02920 678399
E:mail : [email address]
Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Office
Bridgend County Borough Council
Level 2, Civic Offices
Angel Street
Bridgend
CF31 4WB
Tel: 01656 643565
Email: [Bridgend Council request email]

show quoted sections

foi, Bridgend County Borough Council

Dear Ms Williams

The Mr David Michael that you are referring to is the Head of Legal and Democratic Services at Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

Regards,

Tina

--

FOI Office
Legal and Regulatory Services
Bridgend County Borough Council | Civic Offices | Angel Street | Bridgend | CF31 4WB
Phone / Ffôn: (01656) 643473 | Fax / Ffacs: (01656) 657899
Email / Ebost: [Bridgend Council request email]
Website / Gwefan: www.bridgend.gov.uk

show quoted sections

Dear foi,

I have already taken the request further and am not asking you review it I understand this is complete. All I require is a LEGAL refusal letter stating under which section of the information act this information is exempt. You are required by law to provide me with such for my records.

Yours sincerely,

Gemma Williams