Response Date: 15 Mar 2006
With regard to request 1, I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the Authority. Under the act I have a duty to advise and assist you and with regard to that duty may I draw your attention to the fact that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) does not require public authorities to manipulate data to satisfy a request for information. It is possible, however, that some of the information you requested is available on the internet from the Department of Health?s web-site, the address of which is (http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/prescriptionstatistics/index.htm). The information may be contained in the Prescription Cost Analysis reports listed there. With regard to request 2, under section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information you requested is available on the internet from the Authority?s web-site, the address of which is (http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/download_pdf.htm#prescreview).