'None of the information you have requested is held' … or is it?
June 2017 - Canal & River Trust has denied that it holds any information relating to a working group it claims to have set up to look at the results of the 2016 Boat Owners’ Survey, Allan Richards reports
Despite repeating several times that it holds no information about the group it has still gone on to offer to talk about the possible impact the same (non-existent?) working group might have on C&RT policies in a move that leaves us gasping at the Orwellian doublethink on show.
It was two weeks ago that The Floater spelled out the Trust's inconsistencies on Boat Owner Surveys and the unkept promises it keeps making. (Now, where have we heard that before?).
We revealed that the Trust had failed to publish a document which might have justified claims made in its latest press release about the 2017 survey that the Trust would “be taking an in-depth look at the results to see what needs to be improved upon …’ something it had also been used a year earlier for the 2016 survey.
Relating to the earlier survey,The Floater went on to say:
'Indeed, the 2016 press release went further. Under a sub heading 'A new working group' it stated: “A working group is now taking an in-depth look at the results to see what needs to be improved upon and what is working well. We will provide updates on any actions that will be taken as a result of the research.”
However, these updates, if they exist, have never been published and a request for information about the Boat Owners Survey Working Group has been met with silence.'
The silence has now been briefly broken and C&RT has replied.
Explaining why the information was being requested, the FoI request said:
‘I refer to your news article -
[Boat owners' survey shows increase in satisfaction - 10 May 2016]and, in particular, your announcement that -
A working group is now taking an in-depth look at the results to see what needs to be improved upon and what is working well. We will provide updates on any actions that will be taken as a result of the research.
Unfortunately, a year later, I am unable to find where you have published these updates.’
Whilst an extensive search of C&RT’s website failed to find the updates, there was a slight possibility that they had been published. The Freedom of Information request gave C&RT the opportunity to provide links.
When it came down to it, C&RT was unable to provide link. The official response said: “None of the information you have requested is held by the Canal & River Trust.”
Asked to provide copies of any unpublished updates, C&RT again said “none of the information you have requested is held by the Canal & River Trust.”
Asked for minutes/notes of any meetings held by the working group, C&RT once more said “none of the information you have requested is held by the Canal & River Trust.” Asked for copies of research papers, C&RT said: … …well by now you can guess what they said.
As a catch-all, it was asked asked for any other information held related to the working group. C&RT was adamant. “None of the information you have requested is held by the Canal & River Trust.”
Holding absolutely no information related to the working group did not prevent C&RT suggesting “… if you have any further interest in the relationship between what was discussed by the group and how this could influence future action for the Trust please let us know and someone in the team will be more than happy to discuss with you.”
Quite how C&RT reconcile having no information related to the group whilst being aware of the membership of the group is a mystery.
The contradiction between the repeated claims not to have information about the group and the offer to discuss what influence the group they have no information about might have on the future actions of the Trust does inevitably lead to the conclusion that someone is not telling the whole truth.
There seems to be an attitude amongst C&RT management that boaters should blindly accept what the Trust says without question. Perhaps that is the the reason why C&RT’s board were told that just one in four boaters (24%) said they felt respected by the Trust.
Photos: (1st) The Trust's commitment to provide an update from the working group it now denies having any information about, (2nd) C&RT Board were told only one in four boaters feel respected.