Board papers presented at the meeting of September 21 2010

Request

Please could I be supplied with the following papers presented to the board meeting on September 21:

  • IPSA/210910/3

  • IPSA/210910/4

  • IPSA/210910/5

And the paper presented by Andrew McDonald detailing "resource pressures presented by the publication programme.


Response

You requested information relating to a number of Board papers. Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). I can confirm that IPSA does hold information relevant to your request but that it is considered exempt from disclosure under s.36 of the Act. 

Sir Scott Baker, the member of IPSA designated by the Lord Chancellor as the Qualified Person under s.36(5)(o)(iii) of the Freedom of Information Act, has conducted the public interest balancing exercise in relation to the engagement of the exemption at s.36(2)(c) (prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs) of the Act. It is his opinion that certain forms of adverse effect would or would be likely to follow from a full disclosure of the information you request. 

There is a legitimate interest in the public knowing how IPSA conducts its business and what the process of decision-making is. However, it is also very important and in the public interest that there is an effective working relationship between IPSA’s staff and IPSA’s board, in particular in the provision of free and frank advice on policy and operational matters. It is Sir Scott’s view that the release of the requested papers would have an adverse effect on IPSA’s staff ability in future to provide the full range of advice freely and frankly if it were to become public shortly after the provision of this advice, adversely affecting the quality and comprehensive nature of the advice given.

Ref:
FOI094
Disclosure:
23 November 2010
Categories:
IPSA - BOARD
Exemptions Applied:
Section 36