Summary: The complainant-™s information request primarily pertained to differences in content between the text of a speech that had been distributed prior to its reading, and the actual speech given by Gordon Brown on 14 November 2007. The requestor also sought communication between the Cabinet Office (CO) and the organisation Common Purpose as well as details of the government-™s policy towards it. Finally the requestor sought details as to the measures taken by the CO to ensure that the correct version of the speech was distributed to MPs. The Cabinet Office confirmed to the complainant that the information was not held by the Prime Minister-™s Office. This position was confirmed after an internal review. The Commissioner accepts that no information is held as to the reasons why the Prime Minister changed his speech from the previously prepared text to the actual speech given. With regards to the remainder of the requests, the CO considered these were not valid requests for information and confirmed that they were not obliged to respond. The Commissioner does not agree that the requests were not valid, however he does accept that the information was not held by the Cabinet Office. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2010/0114 dismissed.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 1 - Complaint Upheld