FOI 09/0627 - Ministry of Justice/BERR - Law Commission - June 09

[Amethyst]

Dear Ms Coleman

FOI 09/0627

Thank you for your email of 9 May 2009 and your request for the following information:

I would like to request information and copies of documentation relating to all discussions between BERR (now the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) and the Law Commission/Scottish Law Commission with regards to the Unfair Contracts Bill, and the Law Commissions' Report on Unfair Terms in Contracts (published 24 February 2005) for the period since July 2006, to include, but not be restricted to, memorandum, letters, emails, minutes of meetings, relating to any regulatory impact assessment.

I am sorry but we are unable to comply with this request as the effort to administer your request would exceed the limit prescribed by Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. This is £600, which represents the estimates the estimated cost of spending 24 hours in determining whether the Department holds the information, and locating, retrieving and extracting the information. Above this, we are not obliged to comply with a request.

The scope of your request is wide and to comply we would have to carry out searches over an approximate three year period with any official, including ministers, who may hold documentation, such as emails, correspondence etc, relating to discussions with either the Law Commission, or the Scottish Law Commission, with regards to the Unfair Contracts Bill, and the Law Commissions' Report on Unfair Terms in Contracts. This I am satisfied would exceed the cost threshold.

However, if you were able to revise your request it will be reconsidered. When attempting to revise your request you should take into consideration timeframes and types of documents, or be specific to one group. This may help you revise your request within the cost threshold. Although we are happy to consider any request further, there is no guarantee that we will be able to comply. If you have any queries about this email, please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

David

David Evans
Policy Adviser
Consumer and Competition Directorate
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Bay 421
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET

phone: 020 7215 0335
fax:020 7215 0357

Appeals procedure

If you are unhappy with the result of your request for information, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this email. If you wish to request an internal review please contact me.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

[Amethyst]

Re: FOI 09/0627 - Ministry of Justice/BERR - Law Commission - June 09

FOI Requests
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

1 March 2010

Ref No: 10/0241

Monday, 01 March 2010

Dear Ms Coleman,

Thank you for your email of 8 February where you have requested a copy
of any Regulatory Impact Assessment and supporting documentation
relating to the Law Commission/Scottish Law Commission proposals for the
Unfair Contracts Bill, and the Law Commissions' Report on Unfair Terms
in Contracts.

I am writing to advise you that, following a search of our paper and
electronic records, I have established that the information you
requested is not held by the Department.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to
your original letter and should be addressed to me.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire,
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely,

Kay Wilson

Kay Wilson | Freedom of Information Advisor | Information Rights Unit |
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |