NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
The Celtic League has finally had an initial response to our query to the UK government about its involvement in Interpol.
The League first wrote to the United Kingdom Home Office in February but having failed to obtain a response we followed up with a query via the Prime Ministers Office in May (see links).
It would seem from the initial response (see below) from the International and Immigration Policy Group that the Home Office have difficulty meeting our request for what is fairly basic information:
10 July 2013
Dear Mr. Moffat
FOI REFERENCE: 27910
I am writing further to our letter of 20 June 2013 about your request in which you asked a number of questions about Interpol and the United Kingdom's role in this organisation. Your request is being handled as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We are considering your request. Although the Act carries a presumption in favour of disclosure, it provides exemptions which may be used to withhold information in specified circumstances. Some of these exemptions, referred to as `qualified exemptions', are subject to a public interest test. This test is used to balance the public interest in disclosure against the public interest in favour of withholding the information. The Act allows us to exceed the 20 working day response target where we need to consider the public interest test fully.
Some of the information which you have requested is being considered under the exemption in section 27(1) of the Act, which relates to International Relations. This is a qualified exemption and to consider the public interest test fully we need to extend the 20 working day response period. We now aim to let you have a full response by 6 August 2013.
If you have any questions about the handling of your information request then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
P Hondus
Link to Irish Government response to a similar query here:
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
10/07/13
For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:
General Secretary, Celtic League:
gensec@celticleague.net
The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.
ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues
Internet site at:
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