§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the recommended time is for departments to decide the results of an internal appeal under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. [48611]
§ Mr. WillsIt is for individual bodies subject to the Code to make their own arrangements for the procedure used to review cases internally where information has been refused and the applicant has made a complaint. Appendix 5 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information Monitoring Report for the year 2000, published in September 2001, sets out the target times adopted by bodies subject to the Code for deciding the results of an internal appeal. The majority have adopted a target of 20 working days or less. The target for decision on an internal appeal within this Department is 20 working days.