Dear Sir or Madam,

Request for information in relation avian genetics.

What was the position in relation to the public duty and responsibility of the Department of the Environment in directly funding evidence gathering in relation to DNA profiling from birds of prey from 1993 to 1995 for court cases and how much public funds was spent between 1993 to 1995 on the funding of collecting evidence for court cases in relation to avian DNA at Nottingham University? Could I also have copies of any documents that were generated by the above matter?

Given the letter below dated 23 October 2007 from the RSPB Head of Investigations to Defra could you supply any documents that relate to the RSPB funding Nottingham University in relation to avian DNA profiling?

Given the letter dated 5 November 1997 from the RSPB Head of Investigations to Defra stating that the RSPB ARE going to authorise payment to Nottingham University could you supply the information in relation to the RSPB funding the DNA profiling projects at Nottingham University and any documentation that it generated especially the original funding when the RSPB started the avian genetics project in the first place?

Given the quotation below from the letter dated 5 November 1997 from the RSPB Head of Investigations could you supply the accounts and information that encompasses the £6,524 (DETR), £1,702 [RSPB] and £3,404 (ERWDA)? Could you also supply any information generated by the relationship between the Nottingham University [including employees] the RSPB, ERWDA, JNCC, and the DETR in relation to avian DNA profiling?

Quotation below.

‘If the project is VAT exempt, then by our calculations the invoices should be for £6,524 (DETR), £1,702 [RSPB] and £3,404 (ERWDA). If the project remains subject to VAT, then these figures, together with the corresponding amounts of VAT need to be shown on the invoice.’

Do you have any documents generated by Defra trying to persuade the RSPB and RSPCA to funding Nottingham University’s and/OR Defra’s single locus probes? If so can I have copies of the documents?

Who funded the DNA profiling on the choughs in the Blacktopp case?

Could have copies of any documents generated by the above matters?

Thank you

THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS
THE LODGE • SANDY • BEDFORDSHIRE • SG19 2DL • TEL 01767 680551 • FAX: 01767 692365 • DX 47804 SANDY
23 October 1997
Policy & Administration of Wildlife Inspectorate Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Room 813 Tollgate House Houlton Street BRISTOL BS2 9DJ
Dear
I have to-day received a copy of the first progress report from David Parkin. Unfortunately there was no covering letter so I am not sure whether it came from David direct or via the DETR. I suspect the former.
My initial views are that the report is somewhat shorter than I anticipated, and rather complicated for the layman to understand. Knowing David, this could be an attempt to blind us with science.
On second reading, it appears that the project is proceeding according to the agreed schedule, but I would be interested in your views before signing a cheque. Perhaps you could speak with David to confirm where he has reached.
I shall be on leave until 3rd November, but if you could confirm your acceptance or otherwise of the report, I shall then authorise the first RSPB payment.
I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely

BirdLife
INTERNATIONAL
The RSPB is the BirdLife International partner in the UK

RSPB Registered charity no 207076

Patron Her Majesty the Queen President Julian Pettifer Chairman of Council John Lawton Chief Executive Barbara S Young

Department of the

Environment Transport
KM810
and the Regions TQIXGATEHOUSE
0 HOULTON STREET
BRISTOL
BS29DJ
Professor David Parkin DIRECT-LINE: on? 987 8524
FAX:01179878393
University of Nottingham GTNCODB: 71374 8524
Department of Genetics
Queen's Medical Centre OUR REF; WLF/17096
DATE: 5 NOVEMBER 1997
Nottingham
NG72UH
Dear David

DNA FEATHERS' PROJECT

We spoke about this recently. Thank you for sending your Stage 1 report. As I mentioned, we will arrange for your invoice to be paid as soon as I have heard from the project co-funders that they are happy with the report I hope to hear from XXXXX early next week, when he returns
to this country.

I must apologise for misleading you when we spoke. I have since discovered that my colleagues on the 9th floor received an invoice from your Finance Department some weeks ago. There is however a slight problem with it.

In paragraph 6.1 of Annex A to the contract it states that the contract costs include VAT. From that we are working on the basis that the figures in paragraph 7.2 are also inclusive of VAT.

When we met on 3 June you mentioned that the project might be VAT exempt, and my
understanding was that we left it that you would resolve this and confirm things one way or the

My finance colleagues are not able to settle your invoice until this matter is cleared up. If the project is VAT exempt, then by our calculations the invoices should be for £6,524 (DETR), £1,702 [RSPB] and £3,404 (ERWDA). If the project remains subject to VAT, then these figures, together with the corresponding amounts of VAT need to be shown on the invoice.
We do not want to hold up payment any longer than necessary and it may be for example that we need to look again at the work programme to see if extra elements can be added, with the agreement of the co-funders, at a cost which would come to no more than the equivalent of the
VAT.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely
XXXXXXX

THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS
THE LODGE • SANDY • BEDFORDSHIRE • SG19 2DL • TEL 01767 680551 • FAX: 01767 692365 • DX 47804 SANDY
23 October 1997
Policy & Administration of Wildlife Inspectorate Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Room 813 Tollgate House Houlton Street BRISTOL BS2 9DJ
Dear
I have to-day received a copy of the first progress report from David Parkin. Unfortunately there was no covering letter so I am not sure whether it came from David direct or via the DETR. I suspect the former.
My initial views are that the report is somewhat shorter than I anticipated, and rather complicated for the layman to understand. Knowing David, this could be an attempt to blind us with science.
On second reading, it appears that the project is proceeding according to the agreed schedule, but I would be interested in your views before signing a cheque. Perhaps you could speak with David to confirm where he has reached.
I shall be on leave until 3rd November, but if you could confirm your acceptance or otherwise of the report, I shall then authorise the first RSPB payment.
I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely

BirdLife
INTERNATIONAL
The RSPB is the BirdLife International partner in the UK

RSPB Registered charity no 207076

Patron Her Majesty the Queen President Julian Pettifer Chairman of Council John Lawton Chief Executive Barbara S Young

Yours faithfully,

Ross Errington

Dear Cotterill, Chris (AH),

What you have said is not true therefore please supply the information.

Yours sincerely,

ross errington

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Animal Health's handling of my FOI request 'Request for information in relation avian genetics.'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

The website you mentioned does not supply the information that I need as you know. You are avoiding the issues and the information that I need. Please just supply the information and stop using generalisation to avoid supply the information that I need.

Yours sincerely,

ross errington

Dear Sir or Madam,

What stage is the internal review at?

Yours sincerely,

ross errington

Dear Cotterill, Chris (AH),

Now you know and I know that the the single locus probes did not work. Do you want to tell the truth about the DNA or will I do it for you?

Yours sincerely,

ross errington