Project Condign (DEFE 24/2090)

appy to draft a response to Dr Clarke (and the other applicant who is interested in these papers) which of course I will clear with you. I will give some thought to press lines, although until we know exactly what will be released (or withheld) I will not know what to cover. Maybe we can discuss this immediately prior to the release of the information. I think at the very least we should inform both our heads of branch and DG Info- AccessAD about the release. We do not get many PQs on UFOs these days, but it may be worth informing US of S just in case. I will discuss this with my AD. In the meantime, I will send the two applicants a holding letter.

Section 40 over to me the Executive Summary (the original) to the UAP report, plus a copy about two weeks ago. I will arrange to get the original back to Section 40

I see you plan for Section 40 to predict the report and decide on any use of exemptions. I spoke to Section 40 yesterday (before I got your e-mail) and he said it had all been handed over to you and Section 40 forction as he did not have time to deal with it. I got the impression he did not think this was anything to do with him now, but maybe I misunderstood this.

With regard to publishing this information after release, the best place for this is the MOD FOI Publication Scheme. As you probably know, all new classes of information require the permission of the Information Commissioner so we will have to speak to Info-Access about this. When I released the Rendlesham Forest papers into the PS there were a few technical problems because of its size (175 pages). I understand your report is over 300 pages so depending on how much is released there could be some difficulties. Scanned information also has to be in a certain form (PDF I believe). I have a contact in Info-Access who deals with the Publication Scheme so I will have a chat with them.

I think a meeting in the new year when you have a clearer idea of what is (and is not) to be released, would be a good idea. I am back in office on 3 January and could book a meeting room in MB if that suits you.

Please give me a call if you need to chat about any of this.

Regards

Section 40

DAS-FOI

From: Section 40

Sent: 14 December 2005 16:21

To:Section 40

Subject: FW: FOI Request - Dr David Clarke

## Dear Section 40

and I have now had an opportunity to discuss this request. May I suggest that future requests for information under the FOI Act would probably be best directed through the DIS FOI Focal Point which at the moment is Section 40 DI BCR CG3, rather than directly to Section 40

I think we will probably be able to release most of the material in the reports to the respondent. However, redacting them and preparing them for publication will take time and will not be possible within 20 working days or within the £600 limit. We therefore plan to do this over the Christmas period and hope to have something ready by the end of January.

In addition, as you acknowledge in your minute, this report is likely to receive substantial press coverage, and we need to plan more carefully how it will be handled. We (all) need to be thinking of press lines. Should we consider advising Ministers and senior staff?

The plan at the moment is for Section 10 to redact the reports and let me have his views on exemptions. The redacted versions will then need to be scanned in so that they are readily available in soft copy if we are to put them on the MOD website.

I would be grateful for your views on the division of labour as DAS lead on UFOs but we are the experts with the information. Perhaps a meeting in the New Year to discuss the way ahead would be useful.

Section 40

DI BCR CG AD

Section 40