Freedom of Information request (FOI 22/894)
Published 17 January 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected].
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-responses-from-the-mhra-week-commencing-12-september-2022/freedom-of-information-request-foi-22894
FOI 22/894
15th September 2022
Dear
Thank you for your information request, dated 11 August 2022, where you asked for release
of all emails received or sent by MHRA relating to the following lot numbers of Spikevax:
3004667
3004734
3004956
000190A
I can confirm that the MHRA does hold some of the information that you have requested. However, we have also determined that the information is exempt under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act and we cannot process your request any further. Section 12 of the Act allows public authorities to refuse requests where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit, which for central government is set at £600. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 24 working hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.
In attempting to extract emails to review, our IT department ran searches which resulted in a total of 8,565 individual emails being identified. Whilst we do not believe that this number is representative of the total number of emails that specifically referenced these lot numbers, in order to ensure that pertinent emails were extracted accurately a manual review of each email would be required, which would take in excess of the 24 hours allowed.
We advise that you narrow your request by, for example, specifying the exact time frame you wish your request to cover (the narrower the better).
Please note that substantially similar requests made within 60 working days of an original request can be aggregated into one for the purposes of calculating a cost limit, meaning that section 12 could still apply.
If you have a query about the information provided, please reply to this email.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date you receive this response and addressed to: [email protected]
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you were to remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you would have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please bear in mind that the Information Commissioner will not normally review our handling of your request unless you have first contacted us to conduct an internal review. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely,
MHRA FOI Team