Thanks, as always, to everyone for their posts. Some very useful guidance there!
In order to present a balanced argument with regards my correspondence with the MoD, I received the following letter this morning:
Dear Mr Dixon,
Thank you for your letter of 17 May 2007.
I note that you are disappointed that the Secretary of State has considered that the standard cost compliance test should be made to any future FOI requests that you make. This test is a standard applied across Government departments and ensures that
all requests are considered equally in respect of cost of providing the information sought. Information requested under the FOI arrangements will, of course, be made available to you providing it can be provided within the standard cost. There is absolutely no intention to withhold information lawfully requested under the Freedom of Information. The Secretary of State has previously advised you on several occasions that the Government retains every confidence in the judgement of the Reviewing Officers but remains prepared to review its position should any compelling new factual evidence be brought forward.
I have not yet completed a review of all the files held by Boscombe Down. I expect to complete this next week and I will then let you have a full response on the points you have raised.
Yours sincerely......
I'm happy to go on record to express my thanks to the chap at the MoD for his letter, and for his clarification of whether or not I may continue to be an Irritating Sod. I'm happy to report that I intend to remain so, for as long as is necessary.
What would be useful, would be a copy of the 800+ page spreadsheet that the MoD has, listing all documentation held in relation to the crash. Sadly, that fails the compliance test. I even tried the 'request by instalments' method, but failed there too!
As always, I am grateful for your continued support. Updates as and when.
Regards,
Brian
"Justice has no expiry date" - John Cook