cc: "Briffa Keith Prof \(ENV\)" , Phil Jones date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:43:13 +0100 from: Tim Osborn subject: Re: FW: Freedom of Information Act request (FOI_08-23) - Appeal to: "Palmer Dave Mr \(LIB\)" Dear Dave, you requested some input concerning David Holland's appeal, specifically on the subjects of IPCC and confidentiality versus openness, and the amount/location of correspondence: (1) IPCC rules. The IPCC rules quoted by Holland refer to "written expert and government review comments". These are specific items defined by the IPCC (the comments explicitly solicited by the IPCC on the various drafts of the reports). These specific items referred to are already published on the web: They do not refer to other informal correspondence that we may have entered into during the writing process. Therefore the IPCC rules do not require the disclosure of this informal correspondence and do not, therefore, override the wishes of these correspondents for their emails to remain confidential. Susan Solomon, who is higher up the IPCC hierarchy than we are, confirmed with her earlier email that IPCC rules did not require any further disclosure beyond what is published on the website listed above. (2) Amount/location of correspondence. We haven't looked for the material. Some will likely have been archived, some will likely have been deleted, some will likely be mixed in with other emails and would need to be searched for. Sorry not to be able to be more specific. Hope this is useful. Tim At 13:56 04/06/2008, Palmer Dave Mr \(LIB\) wrote: >Gents, >The expected response from Mr. Holland. We now need to invoke our >complaints/appeal procedure contained within the UEA Code of >Practice for Responding to Requests >(https://www1.uea.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.2750!uea_manual_draft_04b.pdf). >We have a multi-stage process; first, I try to resolve it >informally, then it goes to the Director of ISD, and finally, it can >go to an internal 'Adjudication Board' - we have never reached this >latter stage on any appeal to date - we usually resolve the matter >or it ends up with the ICO prior to this stage. Please note, that >the ICO will not hear an appeal unless all avenues of internal >complaint process have been explored/undertaken. >It should also be noted that neither the Act, nor any Code of >Practice mandates what sort of complaints process we should have; >merely that one should be in existence, be fair, be known to the >requester, and used in situations such as this. Please also note >that we have to provide a time limit for response - in our Code, we >give ourselves 4 weeks. (28 calendar days) > >I will acknowledge the complaint/appeal and will assess whether >there is any room for an informal resolution of this request. I >doubt that there is much room here but I'm bound to look for it... >Should it go to the Director of ISD, I will prepare a briefing paper >setting out the issues for him from a FOIA perspective; and then he >will 'rule'. > >I have not had the opportunity to review Mr. Holland's response >closely as yet but will do so and get back to you... there are some >aspects that you may be in a better position to comment on than I >(e.g.. issues of confidentiality of correspondence; amount/location >of correspondence) and I would appreciate your input. Michael, once >we have had an opportunity to review, worth another meeting? > >Cheers, Dave > >cc. to Jonathan Colam for information > > >---------- >From: David Holland [mailto:d.holland@tesco.net] >Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 12:14 PM >To: Palmer Dave Mr (LIB) >Subject: Re: Freedom of Information Act request (FOI_08-23) > >Thank you. > >I have attached my reply > >David Holland >----- Original Message ----- >From: Palmer Dave Mr (LIB) >To: d.holland@theiet.org >Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 4:13 PM >Subject: Freedom of Information Act request (FOI_08-23) > > >Mr. Holland, > >Attached please find a response to your request received on 5 May >2008. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me. > >Cheers, Dave Palmer > ><> >____________________________ >David Palmer >Information Policy Officer >University of East Anglia >Norwich, England >NR4 7TJ > Dr Timothy J Osborn, Academic Fellow Climatic Research Unit School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK e-mail: t.osborn@uea.ac.uk phone: +44 1603 592089 fax: +44 1603 507784 web: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~timo/ sunclock: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~timo/sunclock.htm