MoJ had no idea how many NRPSI interpreters registered with ALS
Darren Fearnley
Strategic Briefing and Information Team
MoJ Estate Directorate
102 Petty France
LONDON
SW1H 9AJ
Tel. 020 3334 2632
Our ref: FoI 75566
Dear Ms Santos
Thank you for your email of 25 March, in which you asked for the following information from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ):
"how many of the 2300 freelance interpreters on the NRPSI database had formally and personally registered to work with Applied Language Solutions, when the Language Services Framework agreement was signed (on or around) 19th August 2011".
I am sorry that you have not received an earlier reply.
Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA).
I can confirm that the MoJ does not hold the information that you have requested.
Further information about the FoIA and what is considered when processing a request is attached to this letter. You can also find more information by reading the full text of the FoIA at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents and further guidance http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/foi-step-by-step.htm.
You have the right to appeal my decision if you think it is incorrect or if you feel your request has been handled incorrectly. Details can be found in the 'How to Appeal' section attached to this letter.
Yours sincerely
Signed by
Darren Fearnley
Explanation of Information Held for the Purposes of the Act
We have provided below additional information for information held for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act. We have included some of the guidance we use when considering requests for information. I hope you find this information useful.
Is the information 'held' for the purposes of the Act?
A person may request any information 'held' in any recorded form by a public authority (or held by another on behalf of a public authority).
If the requester is asking for an opinion on an issue or asking for information that is not already held to be created, this is not a Freedom of Information Act request.
Information covered by the Act
All recorded information 'held' by a public authority is within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. It includes files, letters, emails and photographs and extends to closed files and archived material.
Recorded information
The right of access applies to information recorded in any form. This includes:
information that is held electronically (such as on a laptop computer or an electronic records management system) information that is recorded on paper (such as a letter, memorandum or papers in a file) sound and video recordings (such as a CD or videotape) hand-written notes or comments, including those written in note pads or on Post-it notes
Is the information 'held' under the Freedom of Information Act?
'Holding' information includes holding a copy of a record produced or supplied by someone else. However, if a public authority only holds information on behalf of someone else, for example a department holding trade union information on their computer system, then that public authority may not have to provide the information in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
In some cases, it may not be clear whether information which is physically present on your premises or systems is properly to be regarded as 'held' by your public authority, for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act. Examples include:
private material brought into the office by ministers or officials material belonging to other people or bodies trade union material constituency material material relating to party political matters.
How to Appeal
Internal Review
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to an internal review. The handling of your request will be looked at by someone who was not responsible for the original case, and they will make a decision as to whether we answered your request correctly.
If you would like to request a review, please write or send an email to the Data Access and Compliance Unit within two months of the data of this letter, at the
following address:
Data Access and Compliance Unit (10.34)
Information & Communications Directorate
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
LONDON
SW1H 9AJ
E-mail: xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Information Commissioner's Office
If you remain dissatisfied after an internal review decision, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner's Office. The Commissioner is an independent regulator who has the power to direct us to respond to your request differently, if he considers that we have handled it incorrectly.
You can contact the Information Commissioner's Office at the following address:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
WILMSLOW
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Internet address: https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us.aspx
