FOI Request for Russell Group Submission to Browne Review

Email exchanges with BIS over the withheld Russell Group submission to phase 1 of the Browne Review

Initial FOI Request for the Russell Group submission

Initial FOI Request submitted on February 1, 2010

Response to FOI Request

Received on February 23 - NB that 'those which [I] requested' (including the Russell Group submission) were due to be published "this week"

Email exchange with BIS

Email exchange on March 21-22 where it is confirmed that the Russell Group did not submit anything to Browne phase 1

Emails to BIS which were ignored

Emails sent on April 4 and 9 requesting information on the Russell Group submission

Information Commissioner Threat and rejection of FOI request

Final communication received on April 20. Key sentences: "The Russell Group has requested that its evidence remain confidential while it continues to work on the remainder of the report, without public comment on sections of internal drafts that were shared in confidence with the Review. I am therefore satisfied it is in the public's interest to withhold this information until it is published by the Russell Group." Emphasis has been added in the text below.