Hospitality
Dear Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (Northern Ireland),
Hospitality
How much has this department spent on hospitality in the financial years 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, and this financial year up to 28th February?
Are lower graded staff required to bring refreshments to senior staff? If so where does it detail that in their job description?
Yours faithfully,
Ben
Ben
Thank you for your request for information relating to the amount spent on hospitality by this department which was received on 7th March 2011. You asked that your request be considered as an access to information request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000. I wish to advise you however, that in order for a request to be deemed valid under this legislation, it must meet certain criteria outlined under Section 8(1) of the FOI Act, i.e.
In this Act, any reference to a "request for information" is a reference to such a request which -
(a) is in writing,
(b) states the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence,and
(c) describes the information requested.
After considering your request, I wish to advise you that, in its present form, your request does not fully meet the criteria outlined at Section 8(1)(b) of the FOI Act, i.e. you have not provided the name of the applicant. Guidance issued by the Information Commissioners Office states that a surname should be provided (see attached).
Can I please ask you to therefore provide a surname which will allow the department to process your request under the FOI legislation.
Please note that the 20 working days time limit for responding to your request will not commence until this information is received and any possible subsequent clarification received. In addition, if we do not receive this information by 7th June 2011, which is three months from the date of this email, then we will consider your request closed.
Please contact me on the number below if you have any queries or would like to discuss.
Many thanks
Karen Davidson
Information Management and Central Advisory Branch
OFMDFM
A5.18 Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SR
Tel: 028 9052 0088
Dear OFMDFM FOI,
My name is Ben Brown. May I point out that section 8.1.b of the FOI Act asks for an "address for correspondence". The email address that I am sending you is sufficient. May I also point out that the Ministry of Justice has guidance on this – "As well as hard copy written correspondence, requests that are transmitted electronically (for example, in emails) are acceptable ... If a request is received by email and no postal address is given, the email address should be treated as the return address."
The Information Commissioner's Hints for Practitioners say "Any correspondence could include a request for information. If it is written (this includes e-mail), legible, gives the name of the applicant, an address for reply (which could be electronic), and includes a description of the information required, then it will fall within the scope of the legislation."
Yours sincerely,
Ben
Many thanks
Karen Davidson
Information Management and Central Advisory Branch
OFMDFM
A5.18 Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SR
Tel: 028 9052 0088
Ben
Thanks for your email. Your email address is fine. It was your surname I needed in order to process your request under the FOI legislation.
Many thanks
Karen Davidson
Information Management and Central Advisory Branch
OFMDFM
A5.18 Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SR
Tel: 028 9052 0088
Mr Brown
Please see attached letter.
Regards
Bronwyn Ruddock
Retained Finance Function
Room E5.20 Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
BELFAST
BT4 3SR
x28171
Dear rff feedback OFMDFM,
This is longer than 20 days. By law you must reply. You are 1 week overdue. Please provide this information within 24 hours.
Yours sincerely,
Ben
Mr Brown
We are not in a position to respond to your request at this time as it is still under consideration.
Regards
Retained Finance Function
Room E5.20 Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
BELFAST
BT4 3SR
Dear Ruddock, Bronwyn,
Define what you mean by stating that this is "still under consideration"? The law states you should provide this within 20 working days. It is now at least 27 days. Will you at least then acknowledge that you are breaking the law?
Yours sincerely,
Ben
Mr Brown
On your behalf, I enquired about the outstanding response and it is still under consideration by the Department.
I regret that I am unable to give you a more positive response. If you are unhappy with the situation you can write to the Director of Corporate Services for an internal review of the handling of your request or to take the matter up with the ICO.
I hope this is of help.
Bronwyn
Please see attached response to your FOI request concerning hospitality
and senior staff refreshments.
Dear rff feedback OFMDFM,
It was a disgrace that you took over 2 months to get my reply. I wonder did the election have anything to do with it??
Yours sincerely,
Ben
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