Huw George

 Direct Line / LlinellUniongyrchol: 02920 348770

Email / Ebost: Huw.

Our Ref: Datix ID: 450

Private and Confidential

Dear Ms Williams

Freedom of Information Request

Thank you for your email dated the 22 September 2015, raising concerns about how Public Health Wales handled your original request 23 August 2015, for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in providing you with the information requested, which has meant the statutory deadline has been breached.

An investigation into your concern has been undertaken but before setting out our conclusions it is necessary to explain the FOI process.

  • When an FOI request is received it should be acknowledged within 3 working days
  • The Information Governance Manager with responsibility for FOI contacts the relevant department to confirm if we hold the information and to request copies
  • The Information Governance Manager reviews the information received and forwards it an Executive Director to authorise its release within the statutory timescales.

I can confirm that on the 26 August the Information Governance Manager forwarded your request for information to two senior members of staff for their action. Unfortunately, due to an administration oversight the required action was not taken forward.

This error only came to light following receipt of your email raising your concern about the breach of the FOI deadline. Please accept my sincere apology for this and for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

We hope to be in a position to provide you with the information you requested once the approval of the business case has been formalised by the Welsh Government. It is anticipated that this will be received by Friday 13 November 2015. If, however, there is a delay in our receiving formal notification of approval then we will let you know.

I would like to reassure you that we take compliance with Freedom of Information Act seriously. As a result of your concern and to reduce the likelihood of this happening again, the FOI process has been amended to include additional checks on the progress of requests and authorisation.

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 Public Health Wales. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner for Wales

2nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Telephone: 029 2067 8400

Email:

Once again, please accept my sincere apologies for not responding to your FOI request within the statutory timescales. I hope that you consider the issues raised have been fully considered,and that it provides some assurance that lessons have been learnt from your experience which will assist with the continuous improvement of the service.

Yours sincerely

Huw George

Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director of Operations and Finance

Public Health Wales