Payment for communications/PR support

I would like you to provide me with the following information:

1.How much money has Ordnance Survey paid for communications/PR support in each of the past three years (2008, 2009 and 2010)? 

2.How much money has Ordnance Survey paid to Spada PR agency since the beginning of the contract between the two? 

3.When did Ordnance Survey’s contract with Spada PR begin? 

Thank you for your e-mail dated 26th January 2011. We are pleased to provide you with the following information. Please be aware that not all the relevant information Ordnance Survey holds has been provided with this response, as parts of it fall under an exemption within the Freedom of Information Act, where this is the case, I have identified the exemption and the reason below:

1.2008 - £117,200.17 NET (excluding VAT)

2009 - £99,729.85 NET (excluding VAT)

2010 - £87,750.35 NET (excluding VAT)

2. I can confirm that Ordnance Survey does hold this information,  however I regret to inform you that your request falls within the Commercial Interests exemption under section 43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
We believe this exemption applies because this information is commercially sensitive to Spada, therefore we will not be releasing this information to you. To the extent that the Public interest test applies (section 17 FOIA), we have determined that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in withholding this information outweighs that of disclosure at this time.

3. 21 January 2010.

Please note that your enquiry has been processed to Freedom of Information guidelines.  Where information has been provided, we have determined the Public interest consideration (section 17 FOIA) is not applicable in those instances.

If you are unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal to our Appeals Officer at:

FOI Appeals Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
SOUTHAMPTON
SO16 0AS

Please include the reference number below. The Appeals Officer will ensure that the process has been followed correctly, questioning any decisions taken regarding the original response and recommending disclosure of additional information if appropriate.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Reference number: FOI11135/January 2011