Dear Mr Smith,

Freedom of Information: Right to know request

Thank you for your request for information asking regarding the Postcomm
Legal Group. Your request was received on 15 August 2011.

Generally any information provided will consist of copies of original
documents in paper or electronic format.

Where we hold the information you have requested we will endeavour to
answer your request in full and within 20 working days. If we are unable
to provide the information requested, we will explain why the information
has not been provided.

If you have any queries then please contact
[1][Ofcom request email]. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION REQUESTS

If you are unhappy with the response or level of service you have received
in relation to your request from Ofcom, you may ask for an internal
review. If you ask us for an internal review of our decision, it will
be treated as a formal complaint and will be subject to an independent
review within Ofcom. We will acknowledge the complaint and inform you of
the date by which you might expect to be told the outcome.

The following outcomes are possible:

o the original decision is upheld; or

o the original decision is reversed or modified.

Timing

If you wish to exercise your right to an internal review you should
contact us within two months of the date of this letter. There is no
statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews and it will depend
upon the complexity of the case. However, we aim to conclude all such
reviews within 20 working days, and up to 40 working days in exceptional
cases. We will keep you informed of the progress of any such review. If
you wish to request an internal review, you should contact:

Graham Howell

The Secretary to the Corporation

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

From: Robert R Smith [mailto:[FOI #82763 email]]

Sent: 14 August 2011 14:29

To: Information Requests

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Problems with Postcomm Legal
Group

Dear Office of Communications,

Is Ofcom aware that a Parliamentary question was made on 5 July

2010 by the Green Party MP Dr Caroline Lucas in relation to major

conflict of interest concerns arising from the apointment of a

partner at Simmons and Simmons as Legal Director at Postcomm?

What is the current annual salary of the current Director of

Postcomm Legal Group?

What are all expenses of the current Director of Postcomm Legal

Group since her appointment to Postcomm in January 2010?

Does the current Director of Postcomm Legal Group have no contacts

whatsoever with Simmons and Simmons at the moment?

Is the current Director of Postcomm Legal Group personal friends

with, or has known through working in a professional organisation,

any persons of Principal status in Postcomm Legal Group whom she

has appointed to Postcomm Legal Group since January 2010?

Have all Principals within Postcomm Legal Group been appointed to

the Home Civil Service in accordance with civil service

regulations, ie in accordance with the principle of an "open and

fair competition"?

Is Ofcom Legal Group and Ofcom HR Department aware that certain

Principals within Postcomm Legal Group may not have been validly

appointed in accordance with civil service regulations?

Are the Civil Service Commissioners aware that not all Principals

within Postcomm Legal Group may have been validly appointed in

accordance with civil service regulations?

Is Ofcom Legal Group and Ofcom HR Department aware that in the very

near future there may well be further questions in Parliament asked

in relation to unusual goings-on within Postcomm Legal Group, with

consequent severe embarrassment for Ofcom?

I would like your answers to the above questions to be e-mailed to

me at the following e-mail address: [email address] . As you are

aware, an e-mail address is a sufficient address for the purposes

of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Yours faithfully,

Robert R Smith

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Smith,

Please see attached our response to your Freedom of Information request,
which was received on 15 August 2011.

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION REQUESTS

From: Caroline Douglas
Sent: 16 August 2011 10:42
To: '[FOI #82763 email]'
Cc: Information Requests
Subject: FOI (1-185575863) - Postcomm Legal Group

Dear Mr Smith,

Freedom of Information: Right to know request

Thank you for your request for information asking regarding the Postcomm
Legal Group. Your request was received on 15 August 2011.

Generally any information provided will consist of copies of original
documents in paper or electronic format.

Where we hold the information you have requested we will endeavour to
answer your request in full and within 20 working days. If we are unable
to provide the information requested, we will explain why the information
has not been provided.

If you have any queries then please contact
[1][Ofcom request email]. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION REQUESTS

If you are unhappy with the response or level of service you have received
in relation to your request from Ofcom, you may ask for an internal
review. If you ask us for an internal review of our decision, it will
be treated as a formal complaint and will be subject to an independent
review within Ofcom. We will acknowledge the complaint and inform you of
the date by which you might expect to be told the outcome.

The following outcomes are possible:

o the original decision is upheld; or

o the original decision is reversed or modified.

Timing

If you wish to exercise your right to an internal review you should
contact us within two months of the date of this letter. There is no
statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews and it will depend
upon the complexity of the case. However, we aim to conclude all such
reviews within 20 working days, and up to 40 working days in exceptional
cases. We will keep you informed of the progress of any such review. If
you wish to request an internal review, you should contact:

Graham Howell

The Secretary to the Corporation

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

From: Robert R Smith [mailto:[FOI #82763 email]]

Sent: 14 August 2011 14:29

To: Information Requests

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Problems with Postcomm Legal
Group

Dear Office of Communications,

Is Ofcom aware that a Parliamentary question was made on 5 July

2010 by the Green Party MP Dr Caroline Lucas in relation to major

conflict of interest concerns arising from the apointment of a

partner at Simmons and Simmons as Legal Director at Postcomm?

What is the current annual salary of the current Director of

Postcomm Legal Group?

What are all expenses of the current Director of Postcomm Legal

Group since her appointment to Postcomm in January 2010?

Does the current Director of Postcomm Legal Group have no contacts

whatsoever with Simmons and Simmons at the moment?

Is the current Director of Postcomm Legal Group personal friends

with, or has known through working in a professional organisation,

any persons of Principal status in Postcomm Legal Group whom she

has appointed to Postcomm Legal Group since January 2010?

Have all Principals within Postcomm Legal Group been appointed to

the Home Civil Service in accordance with civil service

regulations, ie in accordance with the principle of an "open and

fair competition"?

Is Ofcom Legal Group and Ofcom HR Department aware that certain

Principals within Postcomm Legal Group may not have been validly

appointed in accordance with civil service regulations?

Are the Civil Service Commissioners aware that not all Principals

within Postcomm Legal Group may have been validly appointed in

accordance with civil service regulations?

Is Ofcom Legal Group and Ofcom HR Department aware that in the very

near future there may well be further questions in Parliament asked

in relation to unusual goings-on within Postcomm Legal Group, with

consequent severe embarrassment for Ofcom?

I would like your answers to the above questions to be e-mailed to

me at the following e-mail address: [email address] . As you are

aware, an e-mail address is a sufficient address for the purposes

of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Yours faithfully,

Robert R Smith

show quoted sections