Sadly, a disappointing response from Sarah Kingston at Hampshire County Council has arrived in my inbox:


Dear Mr Young

Thank you for your request. The County Council does not hold theinformation of the description specified in your request.
The County Council has a procedure for dealing with complaints includingcomplaints about the handling of requests for information. A copy of thecomplaints procedure can be found at www.hants.gov.uk/complaints/comphow.html.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Kingston

Sarah Kingston
Planning and Communications Officer, Children's Services Department, Hampshire County Council
* sarah.kingston@hants.gov.uk * 01962 846390 "http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/

I today sent the following reply back to Ms Kingston:



Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your swift and delightful response.

Alas, I cannot pass on my daytime contact number as I am unable to use a phone. However, I am happy to clarify my request: I am simply trying to find which pupil is 'hardest' - that is, the king of the playground.
I trust this clears the matter up.

Yours,

Norbert Young

Today I received a response to my request from Sarah Kingston, a Planning and Communications Officer in the Children's Services Department at Hampshire County Council. She is unfortunately a little perplexed. She wrote:



Dear Mr Young

Thank you for your request (below). It would be helpful if I couldclarify exactly what information you require but this would be easier byphone. Could you let me have your daytime contact number?

Regards

Sarah Kingston
Planning and Communications Officer, Children's Services Department,
Hampshire County Council
* sarah.kingston@hants.gov.uk * 01962 846390 "http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/

It's been a long hiatus since my last posting, but today I returned to the fray and made the following request to Hampshire County Council under the Freedom of Information Act. It was made using the on-line application form on their website (http://eforms-ext.hants.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx//RenderForm/?Name=Jpn0nvUg-_P).


I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the freedom of information act. In order to assist you with this request, I am outlining my query as specifically as possible. If however this request is too wide or too unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the act, you are required to advise and assist requesters.

I would like to know who the 'hardest' child is in all of Hampshire's secondary schools. By 'hardest', I of course mean 'best at fighting'.

I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request. If possible I would prefer to receive correspondence by e-mail.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.