§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if applicants requesting information under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information are sent an acknowledgement by his Department that their request has been received. [72621]
§ Dr. MoonieIt is Ministry of Defence policy to answer all such requests under the terms of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information whether or not it is mentioned by individual applicants. It is not general practice in the Ministry of Defence to acknowledge requests for information unless a substantive response cannot be given within 20 working days.
§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom in his Department applicants under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information should address their requests for information; and what the address is of this contact point. [72620]
§ Dr. MoonieIt is Ministry of Defence policy that all requests for information should be handled in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Accordingly, there is no specific person to whom such requests need to be addressed. The MOD Internet site gives contact points for some subjects that attract frequent requests for information, an e-mail address for other enquiries and an address for the Ministerial Correspondence Unit. Our Information Leaflet "MOD and Open Government" is currently being revised to update the contact details and other information given there. In the meantime. Appendix 6 to the Lord Chancellor's Monitoring Report for 2001 gives details for the section which has the policy lead in MOD on the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.