HM Treasury have replied, exactly within the statutory 20 working days, to our FOIA request about the RIPA Part III consultation.
Essentially they have had no contact with the Home Office over this issue.
Strangely, they mention the "Freedom of Information Act 2003" - presumably a typo.
1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ Correspondence and Enquiry Unit
Tel: 0207 270 4558 Fax: 0207 270 4861 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
XXX Via email to: [email address]
14 July 2006
IRU Case Number: n/nnn Ref: Mincom Email/nnnnn/nn
Dear Mr XXX
Thank you for your email of 15 June requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2003. I am writing to confirm that HM Treasury has now completed its search for the information you requested.
You asked:
1) What discussions or consultations or meetings has Her Majesty’s Treasury had with the Home Office Covert Investigation Policy Team over the Public Consultation and Draft Code of Practice for the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000: Part III Investigation of Electronic Data Protected by Encryption etc, paragraph 3.15.
2) What is the view of HM Treasury on this matter?
3) Will HM Treasury be making a submission to the Home Office Public Consultation?
Following a search of our records I can confirm that we do not hold information on discussions, consultations or meetings with the Home Office Covert Investigation Policy Team on the issue of electronic signatures and paragraph 3.15. We also do not hold any information relating to the Treasury view on this matter, or whether the Treasury will be making a submission to the Home Office public consultation. On the last point, it is not normal practice for departments to submit to other departments’ consultation exercises.
We hold a small amount of information about the part III of the Act, which was acquired for briefing purposes, but it does not touch on this issue. The information we hold includes the consultation document and the draft code of practice, both of which are already in the public domain.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.Yours sincerely,
Correspondence and Enquiry UnitYour Right to Complain
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to HM Treasury, Information Rights Unit, 2/S2, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ.
Email - public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Treasury. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
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