Progress of UK-AIS COMMERCIAL DEALS UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020
Dear Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,
Of the deals published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-ai..., which have:
1)completed process for moneys to be drawn down - or moneys have begun to be be drawn down,
2)not yet completed,
3)will not now be taken forward?
Yours faithfully,
Mr. A. Clarke
“If you are making a request under the Freedom of Information Act,
Environmental Information Regulations or Data Protection Act, please note
that, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be delays in our
ability to respond to your email. We thank you for your patience at this
difficult time”
Follow us online: www.gov.uk/fcdo
This email is intended for the addressee(s) only: All messages sent and
received by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office may be
monitored in line with relevant [1]UK legislation
References
Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
Dear Mr Clarke
Thank you for your FOI request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We apologise for the delay in our reply.
We received your request on 26th July. It has been assigned a unique
reference number (above). We aim to respond by 23rd August.
Please note, however, that reprioritisation of resources due to the
COVID-19 crisis, and measures we are required to take to prevent the
spread of the virus, continue to have an impact on our ability to respond
to all requests within the statutory deadline.
We have significantly reduced on-site working which will mean delays to
responses which require access to paper records.
We are endeavouring to process requests as quickly as possible, and
appreciate your patience at this time.
Yours sincerely,
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 17th September.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 15th October.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 12th November.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,
This is the third delay.
Please could you clarify why Section 22 applies as timeliness is integral to the purpose of the request - a prompt reply is in the public interest.
Please could you clarify why Section 43 applies as information is requested on already announce commercial deals, therefore commercial interest is already in the public domain.
Many thanks,
Yours faithfully,
Adam Clarke
Thank you for contacting the FCDO Information Rights Unit (IRU).
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ADVICE
Once we have officially accepted your request, we are unable to provide
progress updates within the initial 20 working day deadline for response.
Please do not send multiple emails about the same enquiry, as this is
likely to cause a delay in our response time.
Should you need assistance in making or refining your request you may wish
to consult the gov.uk guide on [1]How to make a Freedom of Information
(FOI) request
The Information rights Unit are not able to respond to queries on the
issues mentioned below. Emails about these issues will be deleted without
response. Please note the relevant guidance and redirect your query
accordingly.
Afghanistan related enquiries
The UK evacuation operation has now ceased. The security situation in
Afghanistan remains extremely volatile. There is an ongoing and high
threat of terrorist attack. The potential for terrorist attacks,
particularly around Kabul airport, remains very high. British nationals
remaining in Afghanistan need to consider carefully the risks should they
attempt to leave by any route. We advise against all travel to
Afghanistan. We continue to closely monitor events in Afghanistan. Please
check our travel advice for our latest advice for British nationals, and
subscribe for updates.
The British Embassy in Kabul has suspended in-country operations. All UK
diplomatic and consular staff have been temporarily withdrawn. The ability
to provide consular support to British nationals is extremely limited and
is being provided virtually. If you are a British national in Afghanistan
and need to speak to a consular officer call the FCDO on +441908 516666
(or 01908 516666 in the UK). The FCDO cannot offer advice on the safety of
travelling to any alternative departure point.
British nationals who remain in Afghanistan are strongly encouraged to
[2]register their presence in order to receive important updates. This
will enable us to validate the numbers of British nationals seeking
assistance, and to provide essential information to British nationals that
remain in Afghanistan, when it becomes available.
If you are an Afghan national and are eligible or have been approved for
assistance under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP),there
is more information here:
[3]https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
If you are a non-British national in Afghanistan, or are the family member
of a non-British national in Afghanistan, and in need of assistance,
please see
[4]https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-...
or call +44 2475 389 980 (or 02475 389 980 in the UK).
Current and former locally employed UK government staff, ie those who were
employed directly by the UK government, not through a third party, should
apply to ARAP following this link:
[5]https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio....
Further information on the ARAP scheme can be found here:
[6]https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2021...
If you have already applied for ARAP, and would like an update on your
application, please re-send your query here:
[7][email address]
Non-Afghanistan related Consular Assistance for British Nationals
If you are a British national seeking urgent consular assistance, please
call the Consular Assistance Team on 020 7008 5000 (or +44 20 7008
5000).
ATAS Certificates
Email [8][email address] if you have a query about your application. We
are unable to reply to any query on an application.
Legalisation
Contact the Legalisation Office if you need an update on an application or
if you have a general enquiry: [9][email address], Telephone:
03700 00 22 44
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, [10]Find out about call charges
Visas
Please see guidance on [11]Applying for a visa to come to the UK or
contact [12]UK Visas and immigration for help.
Travel Advice
If you require travel advice for your destination country, please visit
the [13]Travel Advice pages, which contain the latest information on
coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and areas where the
FCDO advises against travel. You can also subscribe to travel advice
email alerts for your destination and monitor the FCDO coronavirus travel
advice page. You can follow FCDO Travel social media channels
on [14]Twitter, [15]Facebook and [16]Instagram. If you have a question
about the advice or a topic that is not covered, [17]please submit an
enquiry.
Follow us online: www.gov.uk/fcdo
This email is intended for the addressee(s) only: All messages sent and
received by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office may be
monitored in line with relevant [18]UK legislation
References
Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-inf...
2. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
3. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
4. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
5. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
6. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. mailto:[email address]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.gov.uk/call-charges
11. https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk
12. https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-o...
13. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
14. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
15. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
16. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
17. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
18. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
Dear Mr Clarke,
Thank you for your email.
The purpose of our letter is to let you know that your FOI is still being handled and what FOIA exemptions we are considering. Details of our reasoning for possibly withholding some of information requested will be provided at the time of the substantive response.
Your request covered a wide range of countries and investment/contracts, as such involved a large number of stakeholders. However, if there was a specific country or investment/contract that was of particular interest to you, then you could amend your request for us to focus on that, which could help us speed up providing you with a response.
Kind regards,
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 10th December.
We apologise for the time taken so far. However, as previously mentioned
your request covers a wide range of countries and investment/contracts, as
such involves a large number of stakeholders. Therefore, if there was a
specific country or investment/contract that was of particular interest to
you, then you could still amend your request for us to focus on that,
which could help us speed up providing you with a response.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's handling of my FOI request 'Progress of UK-AIS COMMERCIAL DEALS UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020'.
It is clear that the information is held and that there is no exemption within the Act to warrant refusal.
It is clear that, understandably, more time was required to compile the information held. I believe I have been incredibly patient in awaiting information I had reasonable expectation to receive following one twenty day forward delay. I have now received four 20 day extensions and now politely request internal review.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pr...
Yours faithfully,
Adam Clarke
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 12th January.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 9th February.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 9th March.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
Please find attached an interim response to your request, FOI2021/19654,
with a new date that has been changed to 6th April.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 6th May
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
FCDO
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 8th June
Kind Regards
John Harris
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 6th July
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 3rd August
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 1st September
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 29th September
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 28th October
I am very sorry that we are not yet in a position to provide you with a
full response to your request.
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 25th November
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 23rd December
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 25th January
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Mr Clarke
The date that the response is due for your request, FOI2021/19654, has
been changed to 22nd February
Kind Regards
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Dear Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's handling of my FOI request 'Progress of UK-AIS COMMERCIAL DEALS UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020'.
Continual delay is not in the spirit of the Act - I request an immediate judgment before ombudsman referral.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/p...
Yours faithfully,
Adam Clarke
Thank you for contacting the FCDO Information Rights Unit (IRU).
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ADVICE
Once we have officially accepted your request, we are unable to provide
progress updates within the initial 20 working day deadline for response.
Please do not send multiple emails about the same enquiry, as this is
likely to cause a delay in our response time.
Should you need assistance in making or refining your request you may wish
to consult the gov.uk guide on [1]How to make a Freedom of Information
(FOI) request
The Information rights Unit are not able to respond to queries on the
issues mentioned below. Emails about these issues will be deleted without
response. Please note the relevant guidance and redirect your query
accordingly.
Afghanistan related enquiries
The UK evacuation operation has now ceased. The security situation in
Afghanistan remains extremely volatile. There is an ongoing and high
threat of terrorist attack. The potential for terrorist attacks,
particularly around Kabul airport, remains very high. British nationals
remaining in Afghanistan need to consider carefully the risks should they
attempt to leave by any route. We advise against all travel to
Afghanistan. We continue to closely monitor events in Afghanistan. Please
check our travel advice for our latest advice for British nationals, and
subscribe for updates.
The British Embassy in Kabul has suspended in-country operations. All UK
diplomatic and consular staff have been temporarily withdrawn. The ability
to provide consular support to British nationals is extremely limited and
is being provided virtually. If you are a British national in Afghanistan
and need to speak to a consular officer call the FCDO on +441908 516666
(or 01908 516666 in the UK). The FCDO cannot offer advice on the safety of
travelling to any alternative departure point.
British nationals who remain in Afghanistan are strongly encouraged to
[2]register their presence in order to receive important updates. This
will enable us to validate the numbers of British nationals seeking
assistance, and to provide essential information to British nationals that
remain in Afghanistan, when it becomes available.
If you are an Afghan national and are eligible or have been approved for
assistance under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP),there
is more information here:
[3]https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
If you are a non-British national in Afghanistan, or are the family member
of a non-British national in Afghanistan, and in need of assistance,
please see
[4]https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-...
or call +44 2475 389 980 (or 02475 389 980 in the UK).
Current and former locally employed UK government staff, ie those who were
employed directly by the UK government, not through a third party, should
apply to ARAP following this link:
[5]https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio....
Further information on the ARAP scheme can be found here:
[6]https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2021...
If you have already applied for ARAP, and would like an update on your
application, please re-send your query here:
[7][email address]
Non-Afghanistan related Consular Assistance for British Nationals
If you are a British national seeking urgent consular assistance, please
call the Consular Assistance Team on 020 7008 5000 (or +44 20 7008
5000).
ATAS Certificates
Email [8][email address] if you have a query about your application. We
are unable to reply to any query on an application.
Legalisation
Contact the Legalisation Office if you need an update on an application or
if you have a general enquiry: [9][email address], Telephone:
03700 00 22 44
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, [10]Find out about call charges
Visas
Please see guidance on [11]Applying for a visa to come to the UK or
contact [12]UK Visas and immigration for help.
Travel Advice
If you require travel advice for your destination country, please visit
the [13]Travel Advice pages, which contain the latest information on
coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and areas where the
FCDO advises against travel. You can also subscribe to travel advice
email alerts for your destination and monitor the FCDO coronavirus travel
advice page. You can follow FCDO Travel social media channels
on [14]Twitter, [15]Facebook and [16]Instagram. If you have a question
about the advice or a topic that is not covered, [17]please submit an
enquiry.
Follow us online: www.gov.uk/fcdo
This email is intended for the addressee(s) only: All messages sent and
received by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office may be
monitored in line with relevant [18]UK legislation
References
Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-inf...
2. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
3. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
4. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
5. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
6. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. mailto:[email address]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.gov.uk/call-charges
11. https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk
12. https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-o...
13. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
14. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
15. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
16. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
17. https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...
18. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
Dear Mr Clarke,
I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request
FOI2021/19654, received 26th July. Please find our response attached and
our apologies for the time taken to respond.
Yours sincerely,
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Helen Cross left an annotation ()
The response to this request was so delayed, that I've made a meta request to try to find out what happened:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m...
Dear Mr Clarke,
Internal Review for FOI2021/19654
Thank you for your request for an internal review of our response to your
FOI Request Ref FOI2021/19654
We received your request on 13th March and it has been assigned a unique
reference number above. We will aim to respond by 12th April.
Yours sincerely,
Information Rights Unit
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now
Helen Cross left an annotation ()
Unfortunately, there is no legal time limit on how long an Authority can take to consider the public interest, however ICO guidance states that a request should not normally take longer than 40 working days to answer.
My advice would be to complain to the ICO, as when I have done so re: repeated public interest extensions in the past, they wrote to the authority and told them to respond within 10 working days.