Navy Command FOI Section
Navy Command Headquarters
MP 1-4, Leach Building
Whale Island
PORTSMOUTH
PO2 8BY
FOI2020/08908
E-mail:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
Dr Briant
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
1 September 2020
Dear Dr Briant,
Release of Information
Thank you for your correspondence of 3 August 2020 in which you requested
the following
information:
‘Please could I see all documents and correspondence relating to contracted
strategic communications companies in November-December 2013 strategic
communication efforts during Op Patwin or the intervention during Typhoon Haiyan,
including proposals, final reports, correspondence, dates they were engaged and
how much they were paid.’
Your enquiry has been considered to be a request for information in accordance with
the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 (the Act).
A search for the information has been completed within the Ministry of Defence and I can
confirm that information in scope of your request is held. However, it is considered that
some of the information you require may be exempt from release under section 26
(Defence) of the Act.
S26 - Defence
Under section 26(1)(b) of the Act, information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be
likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of any relevant forces. It is likely
that some of the information may fall within the scope of s26 to the extent that it may reveal
operational practices or might otherwise compromise current or future operations or the
capability, effectiveness or security of our Armed Forces. As such we are required to
conduct a public interest test to weigh up the factors for and against release.
The Act requires us to respond to requests promptly and in no later than 20 working days
after receiving your request. However, when a qualified exemption applies to the
information and the public interest test has to be conducted, the Act allows the time for
response to be longer than 20 working days. A full response must be provided within such a
time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case and, in relation this request, we plan
to let you have a response by 29 September 2020. If it appears that it will take longer than
this to reach a conclusion, we will let you know.
I should further advise you that the Government’s contingency planning for the Coronavirus
pandemic is currently impacting on our ability to process FOI requests. Please be assured
that all requests will be actioned as soon as possible, however due to factors beyond our
control and the need to adopt remote working practices there may be further delays in
processing requests and providing responses. We would therefore ask for your continued
patience and understanding during this time.
If you have any queries regarding the content of this letter, please contact this office in the
first instance.
If you wish to complain about the handling of your request, or the content of this response,
you can request an independent internal review by contacting the Information Rights
Compliance team, Ground Floor, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, SW1A 2HB (e-mail
CIO-
xxxxxx@xxx.xx). Please note that any request for an internal review should be made
within 40 working days of the date of this response.
If you remain dissatisfied following an internal review, you may raise your complaint directly
to the Information Commissioner under the provisions of Section 50 of the Freedom of
Information Act. Please note that the Information Commissioner will not normally investigate
your case until the MOD internal review process has been completed. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Further details of the role and powers of the
Information Commissioner can be found on the Commissioner's website at
https://ico.org.uk/. Yours sincerely
Navy Command Secretariat - FOI Section
