Post Office Chief Executive Reports of 2013

Eleanor Shaikh made this Freedom of Information request to Post Office Limited Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was successful.

Dear Information Rights Team

Please can you disclose all Post Office Chief Executive Reports from January 2013 to December 2013 inclusive.

To accelerate your decision making process, I refer to your response to FOI2022/00570; the Post Office’s Qualified Person considered that the public interest was balanced in favour of transparency when agreeing disclosure of Post Office Chief Executive Reports 2015-2016:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/8...

Given this precedent, I trust you will be able to process this request within 20 working days.

Many Thanks,
Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Shaikh

information.rights@postoffice.co.uk, Post Office Limited

Our ref: FOI2023/00678

Dear Eleanor Shaikh,

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 30th
November. Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000.

The Act requires that a response must be given promptly, and in any event
within 20 working days. We will therefore reply at the latest by 3rd
January.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

Regards,

Data Protection and Information Rights Team

100 Wood Street,

London,

EC2V 7ER

Dear Information Rights Team

Please can you update on the progress of FOI2023/00678 following your assurance that you would respond by 3 January at the latest.

I have previously brought to your attention to FOI2022/00570 for which the Post Office’s Qualified Person judged that the public interest was balanced in favour of transparency when agreeing disclosure of Post Office Chief Executive Reports 2015-2016.

In the light of this precedent there seems no justification for your current delay.

Yours sincerely,
Eleanor Shaikh

information.rights@postoffice.co.uk, Post Office Limited

Dear Eleanor Shaikh

We apologise for the oversight in sending this email earlier. We are
writing in respect of your information request, FOI2023/00678. At present
our view is that your request falls within the scope of the qualified
exemptions at sections 42 and 43 of the Freedom of Information Act ("
FOIA"), relating to legal professional privilege and commercial interests,
respectively.

As permitted by section 10 of the FOIA, Post Office Limited (" Post
Office") requires further time to consider the public interest test in
relation to these exemptions. An extension is permitted until such time as
is reasonable in the circumstances. Having considered the FOIA Code of
Practice, Post Office considers that an extension of 20 working days is
appropriate in this instance and will therefore aim to respond to you by
31st January.

Kind regards

Data Protection and Information Rights Team

100 Wood Street,

London,

EC2V 7ER

[1][email address]

Post Office Limited is committed to protecting your privacy, information
about how we do this can be found on our website at
www.postoffice.co.uk/privacy

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Dear Information Rights Team,

Please can you advise on the progress of FOI2023/00678
submitted on 30 November 2023.

I received an initial assurance that you would respond by 3 January at the latest. This was superseded by a January 31 deadline which has now also passed.

I have previously brought to your attention to FOI2022/00570 for which the Post Office’s Qualified Person judged that the public interest was balanced in favour of transparency when agreeing disclosure of Post Office Chief Executive Reports 2015-2016.

In the light of this precedent there seems to be no justification for your current delay.

Yours sincerely,
Eleanor Shaikh

Dear Data Protection and Information Rights Team,

As per my email of 1 February 2024, please can you advise on the progress of FOI2023/00678 which was submitted on 30 November 2023.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Shaikh

Dear Data Protection and Information Rights Team

I have not received any response from you regarding FOI2023/00678 since 5 January 2024 despite two follow-up communications.

There is no legitimate reason for you to delay or refuse to disclose Chief Executive Reports from 2013 given the precedent of your already having released the Chief Executive reports of 2015-16 under FOI2022/00570. On this occasion Post Office’s Qualified Person judged that the public interest was balanced in favour of transparency and disclosure was agreed following internal review.

Regarding the current request, your consideration of the qualified exemptions relating to legal professional privilege and commercial interests has effectively already been overruled. Due to the unjustified delay in responding to this request (originally submitted on 30 November 2023) I am requesting an internal review. If no disclosure has been forthcoming within 20 working days I will be taking my complaint directly to the ICO.

Yours sincerely

Eleanor Shaikh

Dear Data Protection and Information Rights Team,

I have not received any response from you regarding FOI2023/00678 since 5 January 2024 despite three follow-up communications including a request for an internal review.

Allowing for 20 working days for your review, please be advised that if there has been no satisfactory outcome by 18 March I will be referring a complaint regarding this FOI request to the Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely
Eleanor Shaikh

information.rights, Post Office Limited

Dear Eleanor Shaikh

We apologise for the continued delay in responding to your request. We are still working on it and will respond as soon as we can.

Thank you for your patience.

Kind regards

Data Protection and Information Rights Team

100 Wood Street,

London,

EC2V 7ER

show quoted sections

Dear Data Protection and Information Rights Team,

After considerable silence and delay, you informed me on 1 March that you were dealing with FOI2023/00678 which included, on 16 February 2024, my request for internal review which has never been acknowledged.

Please can you update me on the status of FOI2023/00678 and of your internal review into the delayed handing of this request which was submitted in November 2023.

Please be advised that this correspondence is being forwarded to the ICO and to the Post Office Public Inquiry on the grounds of your deliberate withholding of and/or deliberate delay in disclosure of information.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Shaikh

information.rights@postoffice.co.uk, Post Office Limited

2 Attachments

Dear Eleanor Shaikh,

Please find the response attached relating to your Freedom of Information
request. We apologise for the delay in responding.

Now that we have responded, please let us know if you still want an
internal review into our handling of your request.

Regards,

Data Protection and Information Rights Team

100 Wood Street,

London,

EC2V 7ER