COVID Recovery Team Castle Buildings Stormont Estate BELFAST BT4 3SR Tel: (028) 905 20153 | Ext: 20153 Email: [email protected] Mr. Tony Parker Your Ref: War Crimes Mailto: request-709691- [email protected] Our Ref: FOI-2020-0014 Date: 30 December 2020 Dear Mr. Parker, Freedom of Information Act (2000): I refer to your request which we received on 30 November 2020 for information relating to COVID-19. I am writing to confirm that The Executive Office (TEO) holds some of the information which you have requested and wish to advise you that this information cannot be disclosed at this time. The information you requested is being withheld as it falls under the terms of the exemption in section 35. Formulation of government policy, etc. of the Freedom of Information Act (2000). The section 35 exemption can be claimed by Northern Ireland Executive government departments. It is a class-based exemption, for information relating to: (a) The formulation or development of government policy; (b) Communications between ministers; (c) Advice from the law officers; and (d) The operation of any ministerial private office. Section 35 is qualified by the public interest test. Therefore, in applying this exemption, we have to balance the public interest in withholding this information against the public interest in disclosing it. By virtue of section 10(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, a public authority which is considering where the balance of the public interest lies does not have to comply with a request until such time as is reasonable in the circumstances. TEO has not yet reached a decision on the balance of the public interest. Due to the need to consider, in all the circumstances of the case, where the balance of the public interest lies in relation to the information which you have requested, we will not be able to respond to your request in full within 20 working days. In these circumstances, I consider that it will take approximately 20 additional working days in order to respond to your request. I therefore intend to provide you with a full response by 28 January 2021. Please contact me if you have any queries about this letter, remembering to quote the reference number above in any future communications. Yours sincerely, Marc Vannucci MARC VANNUCCI LOCAL INFORMATION MANAGER COVID RECOVERY TEAM .