Thank you for contacting the Department for Education (DfE). We will aim
to reply within 15 working days. 

You can check online for the department’s information and guidance at
[1]www.gov.uk/dfe 

You can find out how the department processes your personal information by
reading our [2]Personal Information Charter.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/dfe
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati...

Dear  Peter Geoghegan 

Thank you for your recent enquiry which was received on 13 August.

A reply will be sent to you as soon as possible and this should be within
20 working days, as you are requesting information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

Your correspondence has been allocated reference number 2023-0028726 .

Yours sincerely

Department for Education

Ministerial and Public Communications Division

Tel: 0370 000 2288

Web: [1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter: [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook: [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

Dear Mr Geoghegan, 

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 13
August 2023. You requested information on Robert Halfon's meeting with
policy exchange to discuss educational policies in Jan 2023. I have dealt
with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I refer you to the transparency publication of ministerial meetings for
January-March 2023, which provides information regarding this meeting.
This is published at: [1]DfE: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and
meetings, January to March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by copyright.
You are free to use it for your own purposes, including for private study
and non-commercial research, and for any other purpose authorised by an
exception in current copyright law. Documents (except photographs) can be
also used in the UK without requiring permission for the purposes of news
reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would
require the permission of the copyright holder.

Most documents produced by a government department or agency will be
protected by Crown Copyright. Most Crown copyright information can be
re-used under the Open Government Licence
([2]http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...). For
information about the OGL and about re-using Crown Copyright information
please see The National Archives website
-[3]http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/infor...
.

Copyright in other documents may rest with a third party. For information
about obtaining permission from a third party see the Intellectual
Property Office’s website at [4]www.ipo.gov.uk.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled, you should
make a complaint to the Department by writing to me within two calendar
months of the date of this letter.  Your complaint will be considered by
an independent review panel, who were not involved in the original
consideration of your request. 

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint to the
Department, you may then contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

Yours sincerely,

The Department for Education

References

Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
2. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...<br>blocked::http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...
3. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/infor...<br>blocked::http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/infor...
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/infor...
4. http://www.ipo.gov.uk/<br>blocked::http://www.ipo.gov.uk/
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/

Thank you for contacting the Department for Education (DfE). We will aim
to reply within 15 working days. 

You can check online for the department’s information and guidance at
[1]www.gov.uk/dfe 

You can find out how the department processes your personal information by
reading our [2]Personal Information Charter.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/dfe
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati...

Thank you for contacting the Department for Education (DfE). We will aim
to reply within 15 working days. 

You can check online for the department’s information and guidance at
[1]www.gov.uk/dfe 

You can find out how the department processes your personal information by
reading our [2]Personal Information Charter.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/dfe
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati...

Dear Peter Geoghegan,

Thank you for your correspondence of 4 September requesting an Internal
Review of the response you received to your recent Freedom of Information
request, reference 2023-0028726, about a meeting and subsequent
materials/correspondence between Minister Halfon and Policy Exchange.

I have looked again at the reply issued to you on 30 August considering
your concerns about our handling of the request. On this occasion I can
see that our handling of your request has fallen short of the standards
which we expect. As such, I have asked for a full reconsideration of the
original request under the Freedom of Information Act, which is currently
underway. A reply will be sent to you as soon as possible and this should
by 2 October, which is within 20 working days as you have requested
information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Following this, if you remain unhappy with the way your request has been
handled it remains open to you to ask for an Internal Review which will be
considered by an independent review panel who were not involved in the
original consideration of your request. 

I can also confirm receipt of your correspondence, dated 19 September,
requesting acknowledgement of your review request. Please accept my
apologies for our delay in acknowledging your request.
 
Yours sincerely,
G Black
Apprenticeships Correspondence Team
 
Web: [1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter:  [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook:  [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk
 
 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

Dear Peter Geoghegan,

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 13^th
August and 4^th September 2023. You requested:

“This is a request under Freedom of Information legislation. In Jan 2023,
Robert Halfon met Policy Exchange to discuss educational policies.

I would like to request the following information:

1. Details of the meeting.

By this I mean: Where did it take place, a copy of the agenda, who was in
attendance, how long the meeting lasted.

2. All documents created in connection with this meeting. This could
include, but not be limited to:
- meeting agenda
- any minutes or notes taken during the meeting or afterwards
- any reads outs
- any presentations prepared as part of the meet.

3. All mail correspondence between the minister and Policy Exchange
between 1 Jan 2023 and 1 May 2023.

I am happy for you to confine the search to electronic-only sources."

I am dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(“the Act”).

The Department holds the information you have requested.  However, I
consider that the following exemption applies to your request:

Section 35(1)(a) – formulation of government policy

The Act obliges the Department to respond to requests promptly, and in any
case no later than 20 working days after receiving your request.  However,
where one of the exemptions listed above is applicable, the Department
must consider whether the public interest lies in disclosing or
withholding the information. In these circumstances the Act allows the
time for response to be longer than 20 working days.

In your case the Department estimates that it will take an additional 20
days to take a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies.
It is anticipated that you will receive a full response by 30^th October. 
If it appears that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we
will keep you informed.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.  Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications. 

If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled, you should
make a complaint to the Department by writing to me within two calendar
months of the date of this letter.  Your complaint will be considered by
an independent review panel, which were not involved in the original
consideration of your request. 

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint to the
Department, you may then contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. 
Yours sincerely,
E Reilly
Apprenticeships Correspondence Team
 
Web: [1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter:  [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook:  [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk
 
[4]A black background with a black square<br><br>Description automatically
generated with medium confidence
 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

Dear Peter Geoghegan,

I am writing with regards to your request for information (reference
2023-0031001), which was received on 13^th August and 4^th September 2023.
You requested:

“This is a request under Freedom of Information legislation. In Jan 2023,
Robert Halfon met Policy Exchange to discuss educational policies.

I would like to request the following information:

1. Details of the meeting.

By this I mean: Where did it take place, a copy of the agenda, who was in
attendance, how long the meeting lasted.

2. All documents created in connection with this meeting. This could
include, but not be limited to:
- meeting agenda
- any minutes or notes taken during the meeting or afterwards
- any reads outs
- any presentations prepared as part of the meet.

3. All mail correspondence between the minister and Policy Exchange
between 1 Jan 2023 and 1 May 2023.

I am happy for you to confine the search to electronic-only sources."

I am dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(“the Act”).

As set out in my email to you of 2^nd October, the department holds the
information requested, however we consider that the following exemption
applies:

Section 35(1)(a) – formulation of government policy

The department is continuing to consider whether the public interest lies
in disclosing or withholding the information. I am writing to inform you
that we estimate that it will take a further 20 working days to take a
decision on where the balance of the public interest lies. As such, we aim
to issue a full response to you by 27^th November. I apologise for any
inconvenience this may cause.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.  Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications. 

If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled, you should
make a complaint to the Department by writing to me within two calendar
months of the date of this letter.  Your complaint will be considered by
an independent review panel, which were not involved in the original
consideration of your request. 

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint to the
Department, you may then contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

Yours sincerely,
E Reilly
Apprenticeships Correspondence Team
 
Web: [1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter:  [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook:  [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk
 
 
 
 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

Dear Peter Geoghegan,

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on which
was received on 13^th August and 4^th September 2023. Your correspondence
has been allocated reference number 2023-0031001. If you need to respond
to us, please visit: [1]https://www.education.gov.uk/contactus and quote
your reference number.

You requested:

“In January 2023, Robert Halfon met Policy Exchange to discuss educational
policies.
I would like to request the following information:
 
1. Details of the meeting.
By this I mean: Where did it take place, a copy of the agenda, who was in
attendance, how long the meeting lasted.
 
2. All documents created in connection with this meeting. This could
include, but not be limited to:

• meeting agenda
• any minutes or notes taken during the meeting or afterwards
• any reads outs
• any presentations prepared as part of the meet.

3. All mail correspondence between the minister and Policy Exchange
between 1 Jan 2023 and 1 May 2023.
I am happy for you to confine the search to electronic-only sources”.
 
I have dealt with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.  
 
 
1. I can confirm that the meeting took place on Wednesday 11th January,
between 10:15-10:45 at the House of Commons. I can confirm that the
attendees were the Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Iain Mansfield and two
Department for Education officials.
 
We consider the names of these officials exempt under section 40(2)
(personal data) of the Act. Personal data is that which relates to a
living individual who can be identified from that data, or from that data
and other information, which is likely to be in, or to come into, the
possession of the requestor.  Disclosure of this information would
contravene a number of the data protection principles in the General Data
Protection Regulations/Data Protection Act 2018 and would be regarded as
‘unfair’.  By that, we mean the likely expectations of the data subject
that his or her information would not be disclosed to others and the
effect which disclosure would have on the data subject. Section 40(2) is
an absolute exemption and is not subject to the public interest test.
 
 
2. I can confirm that the department holds the information you requested,
but it is being withheld because we consider that the following exemption
applies:
Section 35(1)(a) - the formulation or development of government policy

Under Section 35(1)(a), the Department is not required to provide
information, if disclosure would undermine the policy-making process and
result in less robust, well-considered or effective policies. In
particular, it preserves a safe space for ministers and officials to
consider policy options in private.

In applying section 35(1)(a) , the Act requires that the
Department balances the public interest in withholding the information
against the public interest in disclosing the information.

We have considered disclosure of the information requested and whether it
would enhance our transparency and accountability. We believe this is
outweighed by the reasons below: 

• Publishing the information would be detrimental to the open exchange
of views and advice between officials and Ministerial offices. The
publication of the meeting briefing, email exchanges and readout
iterations connected with the meeting would compromise the ability of
officials to deliver advice and exchange frank views which would be
damaging to the effectiveness and efficiency of government operations
and policy considerations.
• The disclosure of the information would inhibit free and frank policy
discussions in the future between officials and/or ministers which
would damage the quality of advice and deliberation and lead to poorer
decision making. The release of information regarding policy ideas
could open it up to negative interpretation or criticism, which could
unduly influence considerations relating to developing policy areas.
• Good government depends on good decision making and this needs to be
based on the best advice available and a full consideration of options
that may be available.  Without protecting the thinking space and
the ability for Ministers and senior officials to receive and deliver
free and frank advice, there is likely to be a corrosive effect on the
conduct of good government, with a risk that decision making will
become poorer and will be recorded inadequately.
• It is in the public interest that the formulation of government policy
and government decision making can proceed in the self-contained space
needed to ensure that it is done well.  To protect good government,
section 35(a) protects some longstanding constitutional conventions of
government, and preserves a safe space to consider and discuss policy
options in private.

We concluded that the public interest in maintaining the exemption and not
disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in disclosure in
this instance. Disclosure of the withheld information would be likely
to have a potentially corrosive effect on good Government and lead to less
fully-informed decision making.  This is not in the public interest. The
Department has concluded that, in this instance that public
interest consideration was greater than the general public interest
considerations for disclosure described above.
 
 
3. We have identified 6 emails in scope of your request. Please find these
presented in the attachment.
 
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by copyright.
You are free to use it for your own purposes, including for private study
and non-commercial research, and for any other purpose authorised by an
exception in current copyright law. Documents (except photographs) can be
also used in the UK without requiring permission for the purposes of news
reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would
require the permission of the copyright holder. 
  
Most documents produced by a government department or agency will be
protected by Crown Copyright. Most Crown copyright information can be
re-used under the Open Government Licence (
[2]http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...). For
information about the OGL and about re-using Crown Copyright information
please see The National Archives website -
[3]https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/info....
 
  
Copyright in other documents may rest with a third party. For information
about obtaining permission from a third party see the Intellectual
Property Office’s website at [4]www.ipo.gov.uk. 
 
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications. 
  
If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled, you should
make a complaint to the Department by writing to me within two calendar
months of the date of this letter. Your complaint will be considered by an
independent review panel, who were not involved in the original
consideration of your request. 
  
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint to the
Department, you may then contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. 
  
Yours sincerely, 
E Reilly 
Apprenticeships Correspondence Team 
  
Web: [5]https://www.education.gov.uk 
Twitter:  [6]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk 
Facebook:  [7]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk 
 
[8]A black background with a black square<br><br>Description automatically
generated with medium confidence

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/contactus
2. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...
3. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/info...
4. https://ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.co...
5. https://www.education.gov.uk/
6. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
7. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk