Answers given in the 1998/1999 Session
Answers that refer to "commercially confidential"
matters or are a "commercial matter"
Q Nos 62492, 68427, 72881, 66450, 66023,
66154, 73913, 88503, 89932
Details of contracts are a matter of negotiation for the companies
concerned. As such they are commercially sensitive and not for
publication and thus divulged to competitors.
Patent applications are treated as confidential as there could
be no protection from competitors if details were to be published
prior to the granting of a patent.
Exemption 13 of the Code - Third Party's Commercial Confidences
- applies.
Answers that refer to public sector individuals
Q Nos 62832, 78439
Personnel records are a matter for the individual and the
Department concerned and are not normally released.
Exemption 8 of the Code - Public Employment, Public Appointments
and Honours - applies.
Answers that refer to company investigations
Q Nos 66624, 71621, 74762, 74763, 77586
Investigations into companies can be subject to legal proceedings
and therefore premature disclosure could prejudice any such proceedings.
Exemption 4 of the Code - Law Enforcement and Legal proceedings
- applies.
Answer that refers to forthcoming legislation
Q No 68411
Her Majesty the Queen announces the programme of legislation in
the new Parliamentary session during her speech at the State Opening
of Parliament. Successive Governments have not wanted to pre-empt
this speech.
Answers that refer to meetings with/advice to Ministers
Q Nos 72245, 72065, 72062, 74838, 80814, 92059, 92056, 97105
Private individuals and companies will provide information, in
writing and during meetings, on the basis that any such individual
information remains confidential, either for commercial reasons
or because of its market sensitivity. The Government has to respect
the wishes of the information provider.
Exemption 2 of the Code - Internal Discussion and Advice - applies.
Answers that refer to internal Government minutes/meetings
Q Nos 66021, 75099, 82711, 97105, 72744, 72742
Other than in exceptional circumstances, successive Governments
have been of the opinion that releasing details of the formulation
of policy could harm the internal decision making process.
Exemption 2 of the Code - Internal Discussion and Advice - applies.
Answers that refer to security
Q Nos 81079, 85821
Publishing information regarding details of physical protection
measures would have to provide valuable information to any terrorist
or other organisation.
Exemption 1 of the Code - Defence, Security and International
Arrangements - applies.
Answer that refers to a competition case
Q No 88887
Both the timing of competition announcements and the work that
is done when competition cases considered, are market sensitive.
Exemption 20 of the Code - Publication and Prematurity in relation
to a Planned or Potential Announcement or Publication - applies.
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