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FOI Requests

PCS has submitted an FOI request to the CLG Secretary of State to ask about consultation and records of meetings relating to the decision to abolish the GO Network:

Dear Mr Pickles

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Request for information

I am writing to request the disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act in relation to the future of the Government Office Network (GON).

Please can you send me the following:

1. Evidence of which local authorities you consulted with regarding whether to abolish the GON, and copies of their input to the consultation.

2. Evidence of which voluntary sector organisations you consulted with regarding whether to abolish the GON, and copies of their input to the consultation.

3. The minutes of:
a) any meetings at which you discussed the future of the GON, and any reports, papers or internal correspondence dealing with this issue (this should include meetings, papers and correspondence from Cabinet meetings, meetings between yourself and civil servants, Board members and Ministerial or other Government colleagues)
b) any meetings at which any civil servants within the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), including within the GON, discussed the future of the Network, and any reports, papers or internal correspondence dealing with this issue
c) any meetings between representatives of government departments – whether civil servants, Ministers or Board members – which discussed the future of the GON, and any reports, papers or internal correspondence dealing with this issue
d) all meetings of the GO Sponsorship Board which discussed the future of the GON, and any reports, papers or internal correspondence emanating from the Sponsorship Board and dealing with this issue.

4. Evidence of all diary appointments which can be retrieved which discussed the future of the GON.

If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.

If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed.

If you choose to rely on either sections 35 or 36 relating to the development of government policy or the effective conduct of public affairs, I would remind you that the Information Commissioner sets a very high standard of proof that releasing information will fulfil the criteria of the exemptions when weighed against the public interest in the information being released.

Thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely

Kim Hendry
Group Secretary
PCS CLG & GO Group