Documents considered by IPSA as part of its 2016 ERG Pooled Services assurance review

Request

I understand that as part of IPSA’s assurance review, it scrutinised examples of materials produced by each of the pooled staffing services, including the European Research Group.

In light of this, I would like to request all materials produced by the European Research group that was scrutinised by IPSA as part of its assurance review process since 2016.


Response

I can confirm that we do hold information relevant to your request. 

IPSA undertook its original ERG Pooled Services assurance review in 2016 with a follow-up in 2017. The materials which were scrutinised are published in the FOI Disclosure Log.

There are two separate links, one for each year, and clicking on both will download a .zip folder containing the documents.

This information is therefore subject to a Refusal Notice under section 21 of FOIA. This exemption applies because it is reasonably accessible by other means.

IPSA is currently undergoing another assurance review of materials from 2019 onwards. Information relating to this review is subject to a Refusal Notice under section 22(1) of FOIA.

This exemption applies because the information is intended for future publication. Section 22(1) is a qualified exemption which requires us to consider the public interest test. While I can understand the interest in wanting to understand the materials which are produced by the ERG, I find that, because the assurance review is ongoing, disclosure at this point may be detrimental to this process. In addition, because the material will be published once the review is concluded I find the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Ref:
RFI-202003-03
Disclosure:
11 June 2020
Categories:
IPSA - POLICY
Exemptions Applied:
Section 21, Section 22(1)