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Introduction to exemptions

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Chapter 15: Who can help: useful contacts

Departmental FOI specialists:

Each department has a team of officials specialising in public access to information. Make sure you know who is your:

Departmental FOI Practitioner; and
Departmental FOI Champion.

Both are able to provide support on how to respond to information requests.

If you are in any doubt, you should ensure that you refer to the FOI team within your department immediately, to ensure the response target is met and the best advice and assistance is provided to the applicant.

DCA

Within DCA the Central Clearing House will act as an expert policy advice centre to which requests can be referred by Central Government Departments when further assistance is required.

The Central Clearing House will not answer requests on behalf of departments.

It will:

Provide advice to departments on difficult cases;
Ensure a consistent approach is adopted across government on round-robin and potentially precedent setting cases;
Revise government guidance in light of emerging case law and new policy; and
Be a source of expert advice and guidance to Departments on the FOI Act, Data Protection, and the EIRs.

Contact details:

Telephone: 020 7210 8986