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Happy birthday to a three year old

Martin Rosenbaum | 12:09 UK time, Thursday, 28 February 2008

It was three years ago today that I asked the Cabinet Office for a copy of the minutes of the cabinet meeting during which Michael Heseltine suddenly walked out. This was back in 1986, when he resigned as Defence Secretary because of a dispute with Margaret Thatcher over the future of the Westland helicopter company.

And it was two years, six months and fifteen days ago when I appealed to the Information Commissioner about the fact that the Cabinet Office was refusing to send me the material requested. I gather from the Commissioner's office that my case has been delayed by staff changes, as two of the people handling it have moved on. They say I should get the decision soon, but I've heard that before.

Looking back at my letter of appeal to the Commissioner, I see that I complained most indignantly about 'the extraordinary and excessive delay' of the Cabinet Office during their internal review of the initial refusal. It took them nearly four months.

°ä´Ç³¾³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õÌýÌý Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 01:56 PM on 01 Mar 2008,
  • Joseph (Maastricht) wrote:

Martin,

I wish your child happy returns on it's third birthday!.

Keep the pressure on and who knows by the time your child reaches it Barmitzah, communion etc you may get the information!!.

On a serious note could you publish your different requests for this information and the responses back?, it would be very enlightening to see how our Government manages to stop even the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ from getting information that we are all entitled too.

  • 2.
  • At 11:05 AM on 02 Mar 2008,
  • Greenman wrote:

Now was the original request made on a Leap year day? They could reply on the next 29 February and claim it only took them a Leap Year to answer, Martin.

Subject: The Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth
Anagram: Sorry - how Ford bad law held hot tot

So another two years for me then too?

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