Information relating to the Thameslink 2018 programme

The request was partially successful.

Dear Network Rail Limited,

I should like to request the following information. I should prefer to receive these in electronic format at this email address.

If for any reason you feel this request is unclear, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

- The Network Rail Board’s conflict of interest register
- Terms of Reference of the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board
- A list of members of the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board (organisations, and the job titles of individuals)
- The attendance record of each member of the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board
- Agendas from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its meetings from January 2017 to present
- Minutes from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its meetings from January 2017 to present
- Papers from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its meetings from January 2017 to present
- Any papers that Network Rail submitted to the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its meetings from January 2017 to present
- Network Rail’s internal memos covering pre-meeting and post-meeting input/outcomes from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its meetings from January 2017 to present
- Copies of the four weekly reports submitted from the Thameslink Independent Assurance Panel, chaired by Chris Green, to the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board from January 2017 to present
- The terms of reference/remit of the Thameslink Independent Assurance Panel, chaired by Chris Green

I understand that the names/personal information of junior stay may be redacted, as might commercially and operationally sensitive information.

In considering the extent of your redactions and compliance with this request, I would appreciate it if you consider a) that commercially and operationally sensitive information may become less sensitive over time; b) the level of public interest in this information given the serious and ongoing disruption that has arisen from the introduction of the May 2018 timetable.

As you will be aware, the public interest test should be applied to non-absolute exemptions, and that the s(2) 43 exemption regarding commercial interests is one to which public interest test must be applied.

Yours faithfully,

Samantha

FOI, Network Rail Limited

Dear Samantha,

 

Information request 

Reference number: FOI2018/00716

 

Thank you for your email of  7^th June 2018, in which you requested the
following information:

 

“I should like to request the following information. I should prefer to
receive these in electronic format at this email address.

 

If for any reason you feel this request is unclear, please do not hesitate
to contact me via email.

 

- The Network Rail Board’s conflict of interest register

- Terms of Reference of the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board

- A list of members of the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board
(organisations, and the job titles of individuals)

- The attendance record of each member of the Thameslink 2018 Industry
Readiness Board

- Agendas from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its
meetings from January 2017 to present

- Minutes from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its
meetings from January 2017 to present

- Papers from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board for its
meetings from January 2017 to present

- Any papers that Network Rail submitted to the Thameslink 2018 Industry
Readiness Board for its meetings from January 2017 to present

- Network Rail’s internal memos covering pre-meeting and post-meeting
input/outcomes from the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board  for its
meetings from January 2017 to present

- Copies of the four weekly reports submitted from the Thameslink
Independent Assurance Panel, chaired by Chris Green, to the Thameslink
2018 Industry Readiness Board from January 2017 to present

- The terms of reference/remit of the Thameslink Independent Assurance
Panel, chaired by Chris Green

 

I understand that the names/personal information of junior stay may be
redacted, as might commercially and operationally sensitive information.”

 

Section 8(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act

 

Under the s.(8)(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), in
order for a request to be valid it is necessary for applicants to supply
their name. The Information Commissioner’s Office’s guidance explains that
‘a first name or surname provided in isolation’ is not sufficient to meet
the requirements of the FOIA. You have provided us with your first name,
and I would like to confirm with you that it is correct to assume that
your surname is Leighton. If you could confirm this – or if not, provide
your full name – we will be able to proceed with your request.

 

If you would like to discuss any of the above please feel free to contact
me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in all future
correspondence.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Robert Malcolm

Information Officer

 

Freedom of Information Team

The Quadrant

Elder Gate

Milton Keynes

MK9 1EN

 

Telephone: 01908 782405

Email: [1][Network Rail request email]

Web: [2]http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

 

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References

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1. mailto:[Network Rail request email]
2. http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

Dear FOI,

Yes, I can confirm that is correct

Yours sincerely,

Samantha Leighton

FOI, Network Rail Limited

Reference number: FOI2018/00767

Dear Ms Leighton

Information request

Your correspondence was received by Network Rail on 17th June 2018 I can confirm that your request is being processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). I will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible and in any event by 16th July 2018.

On occasion we may need to consult with third parties about requests, in line with the recommendations in the Code of Practice issued by the then Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please remember to quote your reference number in all future communications.

Yours sincerely

Anisha Pandya | Information Officer
Freedom of Information | Legal & Corporate Services

Network Rail | 1st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN
Telephone: 01908 782405
Email: [Network Rail request email]
Web: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

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FOI, Network Rail Limited

2 Attachments

Reference number: FOI2018/00767

 

Dear Ms Leighton

Please find attached a letter from Network Rail in response to your recent
request for information.

Kind regards

 

Anisha Pandya | Information Officer

Freedom of Information | Legal & Corporate Services

 

[1]Network Rail | 1^st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN

Telephone: 01908 782405

Email: [2][Network Rail request email]

Web: [3]http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

[4]Description: Description: Logo

 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.networkrail.co.uk/
2. mailto:[Network Rail request email]
3. http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

Dear FOI,

Information request
Reference number: FOI2018/00767

Thanks for your letter dated 16 July - reference number above.

In the interest of time, I'd be happy for you to take a narrow interpretation of question 9 - board packs and minutes would suffice. What I had in mind is that, typically, a consolidated briefing would be provided to a senior member of staff attending a board/external meeting. It may be that Network Rail takes a less structured approach to briefing your representative on such boards, in which case I appreciate that the content is more difficult and time consuming to locate.

Please can you explain why you've not provided information covering parts 1-8 and 10-11 in the meantime?

I'd also be grateful if you could confirm why you are processing under EIR instead of FOI. It's not clear to me why any of this information would be considered environmental under the statutory definition.

Yours sincerely,

Samantha

FOI, Network Rail Limited

Dear Ms Leighton

Reference number: FOI2018/00957
Information request

Thank you for your email of 19 July 2018. Your clarified request is being processed under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). We will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible and in any event by 17 August 2018.

On occasion we may need to consult with third parties about requests, in line with the recommendations in the Code of Practice issued by the then Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.

If you have any queries please contact Anisha Pandya, who will be processing your request.

Please quote your reference number in all future communications about this request.

In relation to parts 1-8 and 10-11 of your request, Network Rail's response of 16 July 2018 was to refuse all parts of your request under regulation 12(4)(c) of the EIR. The Information Commissioner's guidance advises that:-

"When an authority receives a request that it thinks is formulated in too general a manner, it must issue a formal refusal notice specifying that it is refusing the request under regulation 12(4)(c) and at the same time provide advice and assistance to help the requester to submit a new, clarified request."

The Information Commissioner's guidance on regulation 12(4)(c) can be read at this link: https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

Network Rail processed your request under the EIR on the basis that work to the railway infrastructure was carried out to implement the Thameslink programme, which is likely to have affected the elements of the environment as defined in the EIR. In addition, operation of train services is likely to affect the elements of the environment (for example, operation of trains will use energy and generate noise, which are both factors which are likely to affect the elements of the environment as defined in the EIR). The Information Commissioner has published guidance on 'What is environmental information' and this can be read at this link: https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

If you are not content with the processing of FOI2018/00767, you can request an internal review of the handling of that request. Please contact us if you would like also us to carry out an internal review.

Yours sincerely

Colin Bendall
Information Officer – Compliance & Appeals
Freedom of Information Team
Network Rail
The Quadrant
Elder Gate
Milton Keynes
MK9 1EN

Telephone: 01908 782405
Email: [email address]
Web: www.networkrail.co.uk/foi

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FOI, Network Rail Limited

2 Attachments

Reference number: FOI2018/0095

 

Dear Ms Leighton

 

Please find attached a letter in response to your recent request for
information.

 

Kind regards

 

Anisha Pandya | Information Officer

Freedom of Information | Legal & Corporate Services

 

Network Rail | 1^st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN

Telephone: 01908 782405 | 07734650876

Email: [1][Network Rail request email]

Web: [2]http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Network Rail request email]
2. http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/