What if this request is part of a genuine attempt by the government
concerned to deal with corruption by their own officials, eg people
who may be falsely claiming that a particular student has attended an
overseas university and then pocketing the grant intended for them?
At the very least, you might see if you can contact the student
(assuming the personal actually is or was a student with you) to see
whether they have any objection to you answering.
Is it self evident that Condition 6 could not be the basis for
disclosure, particularly if this is a genuine attempt to deal with
corruption by lawful means, where the student's identity has been
misappropriated by fraudsters? I realise it may be difficult to know
whether this is the case. But if the former, would confirming the
truth involve unwarranted prejudice to the interests of the student?
Maurice Frankel
Campaign for Freedom of Information
Suite 102, 16 Baldwins Gardens
London EC1N 7RJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7831 7477
Fax: (020) 7831 7461
www.cfoi.org.uk
http://twitter.com/CampaignFOI
On 17 Feb 2011, at 11:29, Stock, Sara wrote:
> Dear all
>
> Could I ask your advice, please. I’ve had a letter from a government
> Ministry from a non EAA country asking whether a named national of
> their country is or has ever been a student here. The information is
> apparently needed for part of an investigation into conduct of their
> own public servants.
>
> My feeling is that this is not something I need to release. I can
> see no justification in DPA and I’m inclined to refuse. Would others
> agree?
>
> (I’m having one of those weeks where I’ve had so many complex DP
> queries to make decision on I’m starting to lose faith in my own
> judgment. Thankfully it’s almost Friday!)
>
> Sara
>
> Mrs Sara Stock
> University Records Manager
> University of Essex
> Wivenhoe Park
> Colchester
> CO4 3SQ
>
> Tel: (01206) 874853
> E-mail: sstock
> For general Freedom of Information queries please e-mail: foi
> (non-Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create full e-mail
> addresses)
>
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