Public Administration Committee Contents


MEMORANDUM FROM ANDREW GEORGE MP

  Thank you for your letter of 1st April and I apologise for the delay in replying.

  I think we have the right to expect the Information Commissioner's Office to set the highest standards in communication and information.

  However, I enclose a copy of a recent exchange of correspondence with them which I believe illustrates a problem of formulaic letter construction.

  I am sure that others can provide for you plenty of examples from the Department for Work and Pensions which more often than not leave our constituents goggle-eyed and with a sore head!

  Hope this helps.

May 2009

APPENDIX 1

LETTER FROM ANDREW GEORGE MP TO THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, 20 JANUARY 2009

  Thank you for your letter of 14 January 2009.

  Am I the only person confused by the style of this letter? You first refer to information you require to "progress your complaint". In the next sentence you tell me that "your case has now been closed" and in the following sentence you tell me that "your complaint can be reopened".

  You may wish to review whether you are being drawn in to gobbledegook!

  The information you request is enclosed.

APPENDIX 2

LETTER FROM THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE TO ANDREW GEORGE MP, 14 JANUARY 2009

  Information request to Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

  Thank you for your correspondence dated 12 December 2008 in which you complain about the response you received from MOJ.

  So we can progress your complaint we need you to provide copies of the following:

    — Your initial request for information to MOJ.

  Your case has now been closed as there is no further action we are able to take without the documents we have requested. We require these documents as:

    — It provides us with a full set of unedited evidence in support of the complaint.

    — It is necessary to provide a copy of the initial request to the public authority when we first notify them of having received a complaint.

  Once we receive the information we have requested your complaint can be reopened.

  Please quote the reference number on the top of this letter in any further correspondence.



 
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