More delays for the Home Office Internal Review of its decision to withhold information relating to the ffficial meeting diaries, agendas of meetings, travel and entertainment expenses of the senior members of the Hom Office Identity Cards Programme team.
They a "full response" is now promised by 29th July 2005.
Could this delay have anything to do with the fact that the Committee Stage of the Identity Cards Bill, which might have been informed by this Freedom of Information Act request, will be completed by 19th July ?
Every previous chance to reveal information about the Identity Cards Scheme has also managed, somehow, to avoid being published until after the debates in the Parliament.
"Home Office
4th Floor, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Tekephone: 08700 000 1585
E-mail: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Web Site: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
[address]
Our Ref Annnn/n
Your Ref
Date 8th July 2005Dear Mr XXXXX
Thank you for your letter dated 28th April 2005 in which you asked the Home Office to carry out an Internal Review of its decision to withhold information relating to the Official meeting diaries, agendas of meetings, travel and entertainment expenses involving Katherine Courtney, Stephen Harrison, and whoever filled the role of the new post of Head of marketing ideally from the 11 September 2001.
I am currently in the process of reviewing all the documents related to your request, which has proved to be more complex than initially anticipated. Whilst I can understand your frustration, I would like to point out that to undertake a exhaustive review of your case, we hav eto collect and analyse all related information. We also need to consult with other sections within the home Office for their input, to be sure that the decision we take is correct and would stand up to legal scrutiny.
Unfortunately it will not be possible to provide a sunstantive response to your request by the 8th of July as previously indicated. However I can assure you that your case has been given a high priotity, and I will be in a position to provide you with a full response by 29th July 2005.
I am sorry that you have had to wait so long for a reply and the inconvenience that it may have caused.
If youhave any queries regarding the handling of this internal review then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
AAAA BBBB"
Over a month now since a "full response" was promised by i.e. July 29th.