xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
G39, 1 Horse Guards Road
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
London, SW1A 2HQ
Ella Grant
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
FOI Reference: FOI2022/13316
21 September 2022
Dear Ella Grant
We refer to your request where you asked:
“I would like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act to the
Crown Commercial Service regarding the Network Services framework
(iterations 1, 2 and 3). Please could I access al the MISO submissions
made under this framework in a machine readable format (preferably .csv).
As an example, similar information to the data we require is already
publicly available for G-Cloud here:
https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNTEyMTZhZDAtZGNiNi00OWQxLWI5ODYtMjg
1ZWNlMmNkODVhIiwidCI6IjlmOGMwZDc5LTNlODctNGNkMy05Nzk5LWMzNDQzMTQ
2ZWE1ZSIsImMiOjh9
For the avoidance of doubt, we’d like you to provide the fol owing data
fields as a minimum:
Spend value
Month of spend
Buyer name
Supplier name
Companies House Number of supplier (if available)
If you have additional data fields that can be sent, please provide them.
We're only seeking to know how much the framework contract was used and by
which buyers and which suppliers. Please note, that because we are simply
seeking to determine how much spend went through a contract, rather than
the details of suppliers arrangements with buyers, we are confident that
this is not an issue of commercial confidentiality.
Please let me know if you require any clarifications. I await your response
within 20 working days.” We are writing to advise you that fol owing a search of our paper and electronic records,
we have established that the information you requested is held by the Cabinet Office,
including the Crown Commercial Service (CCS).
Please find attached document ‘FOI2022/13316 Network Services’ which contains
spend information, list of customers and a list of the suppliers and their registration
numbers. Please note that no information is yet held on Network Services 3. This is
evidenced spend data as of 14 September 2022.
I have not provided spend information associated with suppliers or customers. I
consider information concerning spend for each public body and supplier for this
commercial arrangement to be exempt from disclosure in accordance with the
exemption at Section 43(2) (prejudice to commercial interests) of the FOIA.
Section 43(2) is engaged because the release of this information would be prejudicial to
the commercial interests of the Crown Commercial Service, its customers and suppliers
engaged in these commercial arrangements. This is a qualified exemption, and I have
therefore considered whether the balance of the public interest favours disclosing or
withholding this information.
Factors in favour of disclosing the requested information include:
• The public interest in openness and transparency of public sector organisations
commercial activities, which can encourage increased trust in the work of the
public sector, and enables accountability in terms of the use of public funds;
• The fact that private sector bodies engaging in commercial activities with the
public sector must expect some information about those activities to be
disclosed;
Factors in favour of withholding the requested information include:
• Preserving relationships of trust and confidence and the free flow of information
between the Crown Commercial Service and customers/suppliers is paramount.
The disclosure of the requested information may jeopardise this relationship,
which is fundamental y important in maintaining the most effective delivery of
public services.
• The release of information concerning expenditure with suppliers could have a
direct impact on the ability of suppliers to compete on a level playing field in
current and future commercial activities;
After weighing up the competing public interest considerations, I have determined that
the balance of public interest is in favour of withholding this information requested under
Section 43(2) of the FOIA.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request or wish
to request an internal review, you should write to:
Head of Freedom of Information
Cabinet Office
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
You should note that the Cabinet Office wil not normal y accept an application for
internal review if it is received more than two months after the date that the reply was
issued.
If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may apply directly to
the Information Commissioner for a decision. General y, the Commissioner cannot
make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the
Cabinet Office. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
Cabinet Office
