BN66 - the road to Judicial Review

[DonkeyRhubarb]

They don't seem very keen to acknowledge these two requests. They have acknowledged one which was submitted 5 days later.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques...nded_by_dave_h
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bn66_foi_guidance

I wonder why?

[Ninja]

FOI - Minutes of meetings

A question here for DR.....

Can you tell from the info you have so far which MP's (especially the ones who voted with the Govt) attended which meetings when BN66 was discussed? Or is this one of your pending requests?

It's just that the whole issue of 'MPs representing the people' is topical right now

[orientalist]

I'll try that next time.

Although, I bet they will claim it would cost more than £600 to work out how much it would cost.

Probably, but if you appeal it, and they refuse again it would make an interesting route of investigation for the indeoendent Information Comissioner when you appeal to him, may lead to uncovering any less than transparent instructions issued by HMRC

[elpinar]

just a word of warning on CTDs

if you aready have a CTD - and think you might get your cash back as the rates are so low .... think carefully ..... you will loose all the benefit you have accruied on it to date - ie iether you have it or you dont at the point when it matters - there is no - well i had one for this time so for then there was no interest (as that woudl be a reasonable approach whcih we know is not how it works) so dont look at DR calcs and think if its only 2.5% im paying 5 on the mortgage so I'll use the cash in a beter way

hope i made the point clearly - a few friday lunchtime glasses of wine have made this a more wordy post than it needs to be

[DonkeyRhubarb]

if you aready have a CTD - and think you might get your cash back as the rates are so low .... think carefully ..... you will loose all the benefit you have accruied on it to date

Correct. Once you withdraw the CTD, it's like you never had one.

In general, it is unwise to take out a CTD unless you can commit to leaving it untouched until this is all over.

Incidentally, if anyone is looking for an alternative, Intelligent Finance have just put the rate up on their instant access internet isaver account to 2.85%. I have banked with them for several years and they are pretty consistent in maintaining decent rates.

Details here:

http://www.if.com/savings/isaver.aspx

[DonkeyRhubarb]

A question here for DR.....

Can you tell from the info you have so far which MP's (especially the ones who voted with the Govt) attended which meetings when BN66 was discussed? Or is this one of your pending requests?

It's just that the whole issue of 'MPs representing the people' is topical right now

You can find a list of MPs who sat on the Treasury Committee which debated the legislation here:

http://www.publications.parliament.u...m/80522s01.htm

All Labour MPs voted for. All Conservatives and LibDems voted against.

[Fog]

In general, it is unwise to take out a CTD unless you can commit to leaving it untouched until this is all over.

I wish I had the luxury of being able to leave a CTD in the hands of the government (?!) especially as this process seems to have taken so long already. I have had to withdraw mine (which only partly covered the amount) so am back at square 1. Ho hum...... at least it is Friday

[BrilloPad]

You can find a list of MPs who sat on the Treasury Committee which debated the legislation here:

http://www.publications.parliament.u...m/80522s01.htm

All Labour MPs voted for. All Conservatives and LibDems voted against.

Including my local MP : Clive Efford

And he does not reply to my letters.

Think I might pay his HQ a visit. Where did I store my Batman suit?

[Ratican]

If HMRC continue to frustrate my attempts to obtain s58 info under FOI, then the next FOI request I submit will be for the expenses of their top management:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/board/index.htm

Followed, of course, by our "friends" in Salford.

Doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.

[TykeMerc]

I'll try that next time.

Although, I bet they will claim it would cost more than £600 to work out how much it would cost.

That would provide you with an interesting opportunity to prove that they can't perform basic estimates so challenge the previous rejections.
I'd be tempted to submit a request for details of the estimating activities for each of the rejected requests. It will close off their avenue for simply fobbing off FOI requests that they don't fancy.
£600 = 3.5 person days seems like a perfectly reasonable amount of time to dig out meeting minutes and copy and paste the relevant sections, any Admin Officer could do that in much less than 3.5 days. If the meetings weren't properly minuted then that's evidence of total incompetence.