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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