Dear Ms Wright,

This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for information below and to let you know it is being processed.

We'll get back to you as soon as we can, but in any case within 20 working days from 10/08/2018.

In the meantime, if you wish to add any further details or check on progress, please reply to this message, without altering the 'Subject:' line, so that we can track your input and respond promptly. (Ref. IMPS#02235)

Yours sincerely,

Sinead Latham

Information Management & Policy Services (IMPS), University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH
t: +44 (0)118 378 8981 www.reading.ac.uk/foia

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Dear Ms Wright,

Thank you for your patience whilst we looked into your request.

I write to advise you that we require more time to consider the public
interest test in relation to exemptions under Section 36 of the FOIA -
prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs.

More information regarding extensions to statutory timescales can be found
on page 14 of the below linked guidance.

[1]https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

We will get back to you as soon as we can but in any case within 20
working days from today.

Yours sincerely,

Sinead Latham

Information Compliance Officer

Information Management & Policy Services (IMPS), University of Reading,
Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH

t: +44 (0)118 378 8981     www.reading.ac.uk/internal/imps

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Dear Ms Wright,

We have completed the compilation of information in response to your
request and now considered the Public Interest Test.

We can confirm that we do hold the information requested.

This information is being withheld under section 36(2)(c) The information
requested has been assessed as that which ‘would otherwise prejudice, or
would be likely otherwise to prejudice, the effective conduct of public
affairs’. As is required under FOIA, the opinion of the Vice Chancellor,
being a ‘qualified person’ (as defined by 36(5)(o)(iii) of the Act) has
been sought, and it has been agreed that the exemption is valid. We are
also required to conduct a Public Interest Test which has been completed
and summarised below.

The University considers that disclosure of this information will
prejudice the University’s ability to provide comment and views away from
external interference or distraction and that it would be disruptive to
its effective conduct of public affairs. The University requires a safe
space to take advice, provide input to external parties, assess and
comment on risks and contribute to decisions away from public scrutiny. It
is felt that disclosure at this time is likely to divert attention away
from the process and therefore be prejudicial to the University’s
performance of its functions. The University has also considered the needs
of those external parties to be afforded the same safe space in which to
consider options, take advice and undertake external consultations and the
impact of disclosure on their ability to ensure the effective conduct of
public affairs. Therefore, disclosure would not be in the public interest,
so on this occasion the balance tips in favour of withholding the
information.

The University recognises that there is an inherent public interest in
ensuring openness, transparency and accountability with regards to
discussions and decisions concerning its employee pension schemes. The
University also recognises that disclosure of information could serve to
reassure the public that those matters are being complied with and takes
into account that UUK may make information available at a later date and
that the sensitivities of the documents may change in the future.

We are required to include details of our complaints procedures, including
your rights to apply to the Information Commissioner.  The procedure is
detailed in our Freedom of Information and Environmental Information
Regulations policy on the web at
[1]www.reading.ac.uk/freedom-of-information-policy

If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the
Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the access to
information regimes:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Email: [2][email address]

Yours sincerely

Sinead Latham

Information Compliance Officer

Information Management & Policy Services (IMPS), University of Reading,
Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH

[3][University of Reading request email]    t: +44 (0)118 378 8981   
[4]www.reading.ac.uk/foia

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