Top 100 status in the Stonewall Employers' Index

The request was successful.

Bernie Williams

Dear Network Rail Limited,

With regards to the above, may I please make a FoI request?

Is Network Rail part of the 'Stonewall Index'? If so, what does it endow upon Network Rail as a publically funded company?

So, with that in mind, may I also please enquire if Network Rail is a Stonewall Champion?

If so, what does that entail and are there any costs associated with being a 'Stonewall Champion'?

Thank you very much indeed.

Yours faithfully,

Bernie Williams

FOI, Network Rail Limited

Reference number: FOI2020/00750

Dear Mr Williams

Thank you for your request for information. Your correspondence was received by Network Rail on 02 July 2020. I can confirm that your request is being processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) / Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). I will endeavour to respond to you by 31 July 2020.

On occasion we may need to consult with third parties about requests, in line with the recommendations in the Code of Practice issued by the Cabinet Office.

If you have any queries please contact me.

Please remember to quote your reference number in all future communications.

Yours sincerely

Najea Begum | Information Officer
Freedom of Information | Legal & Corporate Services

Network Rail | 1st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN
Telephone: 01908 782405 |
Email: [Network Rail request email]
Web: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

Diversity and Inclusion Champion            

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FOI, Network Rail Limited

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Williams

Please find attached a letter from Network Rail in response to your recent request for information.

Yours sincerely

Jonathan Mantle | FOI Manager
Freedom of Information | Legal and Corporate Services

Network Rail | 1st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN
Email: [Network Rail request email]
Web: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

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Dear Ms Begum,

Reference number: FOI2020/00750

Many thanks indeed for your comprehensive response, I’m much obliged. However, I must write to you again, as I now have further questions.

As of today’s date on the ‘What Do They Know’ website, there are approximately 200 requests to various organisations across the country, asking for the same information regarding their involvement with Stonewall. I hope this fact gives you pause for thought.
Indeed, I have already seen another request written to you, similar to my own and I daresay these won’t be isolated examples, due to the controversy at Waverley Station, at the weekend.

However, I digress, so please allow me to return to the original matter, because I must highlight some of Stonewall’s unsavoury practices. It is no longer the benevolent charity it used to be; indeed, two of the original founding members have completely distanced themselves from it, in order to create a new organisation (LGB Alliance), that is more in line with their values as gay men.

Last year Simon Fanshawe said:
‘The government continues to treat Stonewall as if it represented the views of progressive thinking in general, and specifically LGB opinion. It does not.’

And Fred Sargeant, has also made similar comments in the media, and has wholly endorsed this Twitter ‘thread’ in February this year.

https://twitter.com/sarahstuartxx/status...

Stonewall wilfully misrepresents the Equality Act and deliberately ignores ‘sex’ as one of the ‘protected characteristics’, in favour of ‘gender identity’, which isn’t listed in the Act. It is only ‘gender re-assignment’ that is a protected characteristic, so it is highly disingenuous of them to advise this as though it is entrenched in law, when it is quite the contrary.

Indeed their ‘Trans Inclusion Toolkits’ for schools have recently been revoked by a large amount of local authorities. Baroness Nicholson has been instrumental in corresponding with the Secretary of State for Education to enable this policy change. Her Ladyship said ‘Stonewall…decide what the facts are, and appear to have abused this opening to…the point of being corrupt and corrupting’

https://www.womenarehuman.com/house-of-l...

Family Law Barrister Sarah Phillimore of Fair Cop said, ‘Trans lobby groups have grown accustomed to shaping public policy and guidance free from public scrutiny’ and described Stonewall as having a ‘dangerous monopoly’.

https://www.faircop.org.uk/cps-withdraws...

So, I’m sure you can see why I’m extremely disappointed to hear that you look to Stonewall for ‘guidance on policies and training resources’, as it’s apparent that they deliberately obfuscate the law.

It makes me question whether anyone at Network Rail has read Stonewall’s literature on these issues, as you seem to have simply taken them at their word, with no due diligence carried out.

I sincerely hope you take my concerns seriously, because a ‘copy/paste’ response from you would suggest otherwise. I have provided evidence from reputable sources which I trust you’ll take on board.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

Bernie Williams

FOI, Network Rail Limited

Dear Mr Williams

Thank you for your email and for raising your concerns with us. Looking through what you've written, I can't identify a request for recorded information so this is not a matter which the Freedom of Information team can deal with. The best way forward might be for you to contact our Community Relations team and they will be able to pass your correspondence to the appropriate department of Network Rail. The contact details for our Community Relations team are available at: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communitie...

Thanks again for taking the time to get in touch with us.

Jonathan Mantle | FOI Manager
Freedom of Information | Legal and Corporate Services

Network Rail | 1st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN
Email: [Network Rail request email]
Web: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

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Dear Mr Mantel,

Reference number: FOI2020/00750

Many thanks indeed for your prompt response.

I can now see that my letter didn't contain specific requests relating to the FoI Act and that I need to direct this letter elsewhere.
I apologise for wasting your time and I appreciate the good advice.

Yours sincerely,

Bernie Williams