Freedom of information - FCDO Services

As a Trading Fund of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), FCDO Services follows the FCDO’s policy on freedom of information.

FCDO Services publishes its Freedom of Information responses on its gov.uk page – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/fcdo-services

If you would like to make a Freedom of Information request in relation to FCDO Services, please contact our Knowledge and Information Management Team, either by email or at the address below:

FCDOServices.DataProtectionOfficer@fcdo.gov.uk

Knowledge and Information Management Team
FCDO Services
Hanslope Park
Milton Keynes
MK19 7BH
United Kingdom

Alternatively, requests relating to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office should be directed to their Information Rights Team – View further details on GOV.UK.

FCDO Services follows the advice provided by the Information Commissioner’s Office, the regulator for FOIA and EIR in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Using AI to help draft your information request?

AI tools can be helpful, but they can also introduce errors or create overly complex requests that increase the burden on public bodies and cost to the taxpayer.

When using AI to help draft an information request, please make sure the final wording has been checked and reflects your actual information needs.

Before you submit a request or secondary correspondence, please check that:

You are only asking for the information you are genuinely looking for.

AI tools sometimes generate broad or excessive wording that goes beyond the information you actually want or need;

The request is clear, concise and focused.

Short, straightforward requests are easier for us to process and usually lead to quicker, more accurate responses;

There are no obvious factual inaccuracies.

AI can misrepresent legislation or misstate what organisations do. Please review the text of your request carefully and don’t assume AI is right. If it has referred to something you don’t understand, check what it is; and

The tone is appropriate.

AI-generated content can sometimes sound abrupt, or otherwise inappropriate. Please check the tone before sending.

Why does this matter?

We are seeing an increase in requests and secondary correspondence that appear to have been drafted by generative AI. These can require additional clarification because of inaccuracies or unnecessary complexity. This creates delays for both requesters and our teams.

Need guidance?

You can find on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.

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Any enquiries regarding the use and re-use of this information resource should be sent to e-mail: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk