GDPR articles

The complainant has requested terms of reference and policy information referred to in correspondence from the London Borough of Lambeth (“LB Lambeth”) on a planning matter. LB Lambeth refused to provide a response citing regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR (manifestly unreasonable) as its basis for doing so. It upheld this at internal review. The Commissioner’s…

The complainant requested information regarding correspondence held by Essex Police relating to Police Injury Pension Reviews. By the date of this notice, Essex Police had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that Essex Police has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to provide a valid…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Waltham Forest (“the Council”) relating to the installation of new entrance doors at five flats within the Council’s property portfolio. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council breached section 10(1) of the FOIA by failing to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory…

The complainant has requested the names of the examiners who examined the then-Miss Tsai Ing-wen (now President of Taiwan) for her PhD and the report from her viva. The Council of the London School of Economics and Political Science denied holding the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the…

The complainant requested information from St Helens Council (the “Council”) relating to legal action against a named company for failing to adhere to a planning condition. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the complainant’s request within 20 working days of receipt and has therefore breached regulation 5(2) of the…

The complainant requested from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) information relating to home working during the COVID 19 pandemic and the deployment of laptops/devices to enable home working during the pandemic. The MOJ refused to comply with the request citing section 12 (cost limits) of the FOIA. The Commissioner decision is that the MOJ was…

The complainant requested information from Durham County Council (“the Council”) comprising the legal advice given to a councillor on whether they should declare a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) at a meeting of Great Aycliffe Town Council. The Council withheld the information under section 42(1) of the FOIA: legal professional privilege. The Commissioner’s decision is that…

The complainant has requested National Highways (NH) to disclose information relating to a claim dating back to 2014. He also requested certain information about all claims above £10,000 since 2014. NH refused to comply with the request in accordance with section 14(1) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that NH is entitled to rely on…

The complainant has requested information held by West of England Combined Authority (WECA) relating to plans for six strategic transport schemes in the region. The Commissioner’s decision is that WECA was not correct to rely on section 44 of the FOIA (prohibitions on disclosure) when refusing the request. Furthermore, whilst WECA subsequently cited regulation 12(4)(d)…

The complainant requested information held by Manchester City Council (the council) relating to works carried out on the pavement outside his home. The Commissioner’s decision is that it is likely that, on the balance of probabilities, the council has provided the complainant with all the information that it holds that is relevant to the request.…

The complainant made three separate requests from North Somerset Council (“the council”) for information related to a planning decision. The council aggregated the requests and refused to comply under regulation 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable request) of the EIR. Regulation 12(5)(b) (the course of justice) was also applied to two of the requests. The Commissioner’s decision is…

The complainant requested information relating to probate proceedings. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed it held information within the scope of the request but refused to provide it, citing section 32 (court records) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MoJ was entitled to rely on sections 32(1)(a) and (c) to withhold the requested…

The complainant has requested information on deaths associated with air pollution. University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) has advised that it does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The Trust does not hold the information the complainant has requested and therefore regulation (12)(4)(a) of the EIR is engaged. The…

The complainant has requested information from Hertfordshire Constabulary (“the Constabulary”) regarding injury awards pursuant to the Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Constabulary was entitled to apply section 12 of the FOIA – exceeds appropriate limit, and that it has complied with the requirement of section 16 of the FOIA…

The complainant requested documentary evidence forwarded to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (the Council) by a third party. By the date of this notice the Council had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to provide a…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Croydon (“the Council”) relating to a developments flood risk assessment and drainage proposals. By the date of this notice the Council had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has breached regulation 5(2) of the EIR in that…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Croydon (“the Council”) relating to a specific planning application. By the date of this notice the Council had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has breached regulation 5(2) of the EIR in that it failed to provide…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Croydon (“the Council”) relating to a specific planning application. By the date of this notice the Council had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has breached regulation 5(2) of the EIR in that it failed to provide…

The complainant requested information from the Chief Constable of Essex Police (“Essex Police”) relating to employees training on mental health and Essex Police’s powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA). By the date of this notice Essex Police had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that Essex Police…

The complainant has requested information on the increase in the base rate for Universal Credit and the decision not to raise particular legacy benefits in line with this increase. The Commissioner’s decision is that although the exemptions at FOIA section 35(1)(a) Formulation of government policy and section 42(1) Legal professional privilege are engaged, the public…

The complainant has requested information acquired during the course of an independent review. NHS Improvement disclosed some information but variously relied on section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs), section 40 (third party personal data) and section 41 (actionable breach of confidence) of the FOIA to withhold the requested information. The Commissioner’s…

The complainant has requested information relating to a free school presumption competition. The Department for Education provided some information and relied on section 36 (effective conduct of public affairs) and section 43 of the FOIA (commercial interests) to withhold the remainder. The Commissioner’s decision is that sections 36(2)(b)(i) and 36(2)(b)(ii) are engaged, but only in…

Summary wording for website: 1. The complainant requested information from Surrey Heath Borough Council (the Council), relating to a specific address. 2. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council correctly applied section 40 and section 41 to the unredacted documents. 3. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken as a result of the decision.…

The complainant has requested a range of information associated with COVID-19 and personal protective equipment. Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (‘the Trust’) has refused to comply with the request under section 12(1) of the FOIA (cost exceeds the appropriate limit). The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The Trust is entitled to refuse to comply…

The complainant has requested copies of two pandemic briefing papers and any correspondence between the Head of Emergency, Preparedness, Resilience and Response and the Department of Health and Social Care and the Chief Medical Officer in the three months following the submission of these papers to the Chief Medical Officer. NHSE disclosed the papers to…

The complainant has requested information held by Cherwell District Council (the council) relating to a building control application for a particular housing development. The Commissioner’s decision is that regulation 5(3) of the EIR applies to certain parts of the request, as it is the complainant’s own personal data. With regard to the remaining parts of…

The complainant has requested information relating to the Gambling Commission’s (‘GC’) decision to grant Bet Index Limited, trading as Football Index, a gambling license. The GC refused to disclose the requested information citing section 31(1)(g) (law enforcement) by virtue of section 31(2)(d) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption is engaged but…

The complainant has requested information relating to an incident report held by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE relied on sections 30(1) (investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities) and 40(2) (third party personal data) of the FOIA to withhold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the HSE is entitled to…

The complainant requested a copy of a submission provided by a public authority in response to a complaint he had made. The Information Commissioner (“the ICO”) withheld the requested information as it considered that disclosure would contravene section 132 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and therefore section 44 of the FOIA (statutory prohibition on…

The complainant made multiple requests to the Metropolitan Police Service (the “MPS”), for information held in its Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) dedicated database. The MPS initially found the requested information to be exempt by virtue of sections 23(5) (Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters), 24(1) (National security), 30(1)(a)…

The complainant has requested information from Amber Valley Council (“the Council”) regarding an image that has been provided in relation to a complaint about their property. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has correctly applied Regulation 13 – personal data, of the EIR. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any…

The complainant requested information relating to an investigation arising from criticisms made in the course of an Employment Tribunal. The MoJ confirmed it held information within the scope of the request but refused to disclose it, citing sections 38 (health and safety), 40(2) (personal information), 41(1) (information provided in confidence) and 42 (legal professional privilege)…

The complainant has requested information associated with the National Lottery and National Lottery terminals. The Gambling Commission released information relevant to two parts of the request, advised it does not hold information within scope of four parts and withheld information within scope of the remaining two parts under section 43(2) of the FOIA (commercial interests).…

The complainant requested information about the SLA between North East Combined Authority (“NECA”) and TT2 that relates to the Tyne Pass Initiative. By the date of this notice NECA had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NECA has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed…

The complainant requested from the London Borough of Croydon (“the Council”) information relating to specific properties. By the date of this notice the Council had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to provide a valid…

The complainant has requested information about a ground maintenance contract awarded to a landscaping company. The Commissioner’s decision is that Whitchurch Town Council (“the Council”) has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached Regulation 5(2) of the Environment Information Regulations (EIR). The Commissioner requires the public authority to…

The complainant has requested emails and attachments that include mention of the ‘Kent’ variant of Covid-19. The Commissioner’s decision is that Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has correctly cited section 12 FOIA – cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit, in response to the request. The Commissioner does not require BEIS to…

The complainant has requested information relating to weight management services within St Helens. The St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (‘the CCG’) confirmed that it does not hold any further information that falls within the scope of the request, other than that which it has already been disclosed. The Commissioner is satisfied that, on the balance…

The complainant has requested the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to disclose the information it holds relating to two meetings it held on 10 April and 20 June 2019 with the Road Haulage Association with regards to medicals. The DVLA responded, disclosing the recorded information it holds. The complainant disputed that the DVLA had…

The complainant requested the names of external examiners and an evaluation report associated with particular courses of study. The Board of Governors of Staffordshire University relied on section 40(2) of the FOIA (third party personal data) to withhold the names of the external examiners and sections 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs)…

The complainant requested information from the Metropolitan Police Service (“the MPS”) relating to the use of Violence Suppression Units. By the date of this notice the MPS had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MPS has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed…

The complainant requested information about a self-referral from Staffordshire Police following a coroner’s report. The Independent Office for Police Conduct eventually responded to the request, but outside the 20 working day timeframe. The Commissioner’s decision is that the IOPC failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and therefore breached section 10 of…

The complainant has requested from Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council information relating to the number of injunctions that had been issued on its behalf against residents in the borough between two dates. The Council withheld the requested information under section 40(2) (personal information) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was entitled to…

The complainant has requested information relating to a proposed industrial poultry unit at Footbridge Farm. The Commissioner’s decision is that Shropshire Council (“the Council”) has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached Regulation 5(2) of the Environmental Information Regulations (“the EIR”). The Commissioner requires the Council to take…

The complainant requested information from Devon County Council relating to any allegations made against a business that they are associated with. The Council refused to confirm or deny if information was held under section 40(5B) (third party personal information) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that any information held by the Council that fell…

The complainant has requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (“NHS England”) relating to the effectiveness of the National Genomic Information System within the NHS. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and therefore breached Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act (“the FOIA”).…

The complainant requested information Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) about staff redeployed due to Covid during the period March 2020 to date and other related information. By the date of this notice the Trust had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has…

The complainant requested information NHS England about the allocation of tickets to the FA Cup semi-final and Carabao Cup final for London based NHS staff. By the date of this notice NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has breached section 10(1) of…

The complainant has requested certain statutory and regulatory information. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (‘PHSO’) has advised that it does not hold the specific information requested. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities, PHSO does not hold the requested information and has complied with section 1(1)(a) of the FOIA. The…

The complainant has requested information associated with a ‘Type 2’ opt-out error identified in 2018. NHS Digital has categorised the request as a vexatious request under section 14(1) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: NHS Digital is entitled to categorise the complainant’s request of 16 January 2021 as vexatious under section 14(1)…

The complainant has requested information relating to expenditure for the pathology department for the financial years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-2020. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has failed to demonstrate why section 43(2) (commercial interests) of the FOIA is engaged. The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance…

The complainant requested information from the Cabinet Office (CO) about statistical information and the supporting information that would allow the statistical information to be interpreted. By the date of this notice the CO had not issued a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the CO has failed to complete its deliberations…

The complainant requested from Avon and Somerset Police email correspondence and related meeting papers between Avon and Somerset Police and employees of Reach PLC between 20/3/2021 and 05/04/2021. By the date of this notice Avon and Somerset Police had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that Avon and Somerset…

The complainant has requested evidence held by Huntingdonshire District Council (the council) regarding ownership of a particular piece of land. The council refused the request because it believed it to be a repeat of a previous request made by the same complainant. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was entitled to rely on section…

The complainant has requested Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (the trust) to disclose the number of Prostate Arterial Embolisation procedures two doctors performed in 2019 and 2020 and any other data collected by the trust relating to such procedures over the same timeframe. The trust refused to disclose the requested information citing section…

The complainant has requested the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to disclose the names of 47 companies which were awarded contracts via the ‘high-priority lane’ for procuring PPE. Initially the DHSC withheld the information under section 43 of the FOIA (commercial interests). At the internal review stage the DHSC revised its position, withdrew…

The complainant has requested information about psychological assessment screening. The Isle of Wight NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) advised it does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: It has become apparent that the Trust has failed to obtain the correct objective reading of the request.  In line with the duty under…

The complainant requested information with regards to the Bristol Mass Transit Policy. West of England Combined Authority (the council) refused the request under regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR – material in the course of completion. The Commissioner’s decision is that regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR is engaged and the public interest in maintaining the exception…

The complainant has requested information regarding objections to the council’s accounts. Kirby Muxloe Parish Council initially refused the request on the basis of section 14. This position was revised during the course of the investigation and the information was provided. The Commissioner’s decision is that Kirby Muxloe Parish Council failed to respond to the request…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (“NHS England”) relating to the NIMS database. By the date of this notice, NHS England had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached…

The complainant has requested information relating to safeguarding at Meadowfield School. The School refused to comply with the request under section 14(1) (vexatious requests) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the request was vexatious and therefore the School was entitled to rely upon section 14(1) to refuse it. However, the School has breached…

The complainant requested details of a specific section of the planned Northern Powerhouse Railway. Transport for the North withheld the requested information and relied on Regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR (material in the course of completion) in order to do so. The Commissioner’s decision is that TfN has correctly relied on Regulation 12(4)(d) to withhold…

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Barnet (the Council) seeking copies of legal agreements between it and Saracens Copthall LLP concerning a loan to finance a replacement west stand as part of its Allianz Park stadium. The Council initially withheld the requested agreements in full on the basis of sections 43(2)…

The complainant requested information from Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust relating to the physical assault of staff. By the date of this notice, the Trust had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore…

The complainant has requested the Department of Health and Social Care (the DHSC) to disclose information about the contract for ‘Project Saturn’. The DHSC refused to disclose the requested information citing section 43 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DHSC is entitled to refuse to disclose the requested information in accordance with…

The complainant has requested a copy of the DPIA conducted into the NHS test and trace programme. The Department of Health and Social care withheld this information under section 35(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DHSC is entitled to rely upon section 35(1)(a) as a…

The complainant requested information from Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (“the Trust”) relating to the physical assault of staff. By the date of this notice, the Trust had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has failed to respond to the request within 20 working…

The complainant requested information from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust relating to the physical assault of staff. By the date of this notice, the Trust had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days…

The complainant requested information from North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust relating to the physical assault of staff. By the date of this notice, the Trust had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore…

The complainant requested information from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust relating to the physical assault of staff. By the date of this notice, the Trust had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has…

The complainant submitted a three part request to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO, now the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) seeking information about communications with a third party contractor concerning Cameroon. The FCO explained that it did not hold any information falling within the scope of the first two parts of the request, and…

The complainant has requested the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to disclose the number and names of all key subcontractors employed by Serco and Sitel to work on NHS Test & Trace. The DHSC confirmed that Sitel does not use subcontractors. In respect of Serco it provided the number of subcontractors used but…

The complainant requested various information from Irby Upon Humber Parish Council (the ‘Council’) relating to a public interest report, financial records, and Council procedures. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response to the complainant by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request…

The complainant submitted a request for information to the Welsh Government in respect of a decision not to let Welsh patients have a postal service for prescriptions, and whether any discussions had taken place, or were planned to take place in relation to ensuring that the clinically extremely vulnerable could obtain their medication during the…

The complainant has requested the Department of Health and Social Care (the DHSC) to disclose the number of lateral flow test kits to be supplied under the contracts of two referenced TED notices. The DHSC refused to disclose the requested information, citing section 43 (commercial interests) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (“NHS England”) relating to the pathway/referral process, the Individual Funding Review panel and NHS England’s targets for replying to correspondence from MPs. By the date of this notice, NHS England had not provided a substantive response. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has failed to…

The complainant has requested information regarding the resurfacing of a highway. The Commissioner’s decision is that Vale of Glamorgan Council (“the Council”) has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached Regulation 5(2) of the Environmental Information Regulations (“the EIR”). The Commissioner requires the Council to take the following…

1. Summary wording for website: The complainant has requested information from Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) regarding communications between it and various third parties with reference to current Tribunal proceedings 2. The Commissioner’s decision is that WHA has correctly applied section 12(1) of the FOIA to the complainant’s request. 3. However, the Commissioner finds WHA in…

The complainant has requested information relating to .Loan Charge and Loan Charge Settlement statistics. The Commissioner’s decision is that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has correctly cited section 12(1) – cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit, in response to the request. The Commissioner does not require HMRC to take any steps. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant submitted a request to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) describing a scenario where an accountant is aware that a client failed to submit a tax return and sought any information, policies and guidance HMRC held about such a scenario. HMRC explained that it did not hold any information in the scope of the…

The complainant requested information from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) relating to all surveys submitted by the domestic services department staff. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust failed to respond to the requests within 20 working days and therefore breached Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act (“the FOIA”). Powered by…

The complainant has requested information relating to any actions, interventions or projects undertaken by the British Museum intended to review any subjects or collections that may have origins in slavery or racism. The Museum confirmed that it held information within the scope of the request, specifically external correspondence received from the public which the museum…

The complainant requested information from Adderley Primary School (“the School”) about the school’s staff disciplinary policy and procedure. The Commissioner’s decision is that the School breached section 10(1) of the FOIA by failing to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory time frame of 20 working days. The Commissioner requires the School…

The complainant requested information about particular fraud reports and associated fraud charges. Northumbria Police refused to provide the requested information, citing section 12(1) of FOIA (cost of compliance), as to do so would exceed the appropriate cost and time limit. Although Northumbria Police revised its cost estimate during the course of the Commissioner’s investigation and…

The complainant requested information from Guildford Council (“the Council”) about correspondence concerning two planning applications. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached regulation 5(2) of the EIR. The Commissioner requires the Council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with…

The complainant requested various information in respect of a report produced by the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group and published in March 2020 concerning a review of the Animal Welfare (Dog Breeding) (Wales) Regulations 2014. The Welsh Government provided some information but refused to provide information in respect of vets on the basis…

The complainant has requested Queen Mary University of London (the University) to disclose copies of weekly associated dean meetings from April 2020 to the date of her request and, also, data relating to medical school student placements, and correspondence with a named individual. The University refused to disclose the meeting minutes, citing sections 36(2)(b)(i) and…

The complainant requested various information about ”Project Habitance”, “Project Habitance II” and “Project Inhabitance”. Gwent Police refused to confirm or deny whether it held information falling within the scope of the request on the basis of sections 23(5) (security bodies), 27(4)(a) & (b) (international relations), 30(3) (investigations), 31(3) (law enforcement) and section 40(5) (personal information).…

1. The complainant requested information from the ICO about correspondence it has had with the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL) since 1 January 2021. 2. The Commissioner’s decision is that the ICO breached section 10(1) of the FOIA by failing to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory time frame of…

The complainant has requested information concerning Waheed Saleem and the honours system. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office has appropriately applied section 21(1), information accessible by other means, section 40(2), personal information and section 37(1)(b), the conferring by the crown of any honour or dignity, with the public interest favouring maintaining the exemption.…

The complainant requested a range of information from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the ‘Trust’) about deaths at the Trust from Covid 19. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust breached section 10(1) of the FOIA by failing to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory time frame of…

The complainant has requested from the City of York Council, information regarding the resignation of a councillor from a Scrutiny Committee. The council denied that the requested information was held. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the City of York Council does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner does not…

The complainant has requested information about a staffing committee of the council. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, Dunchurch Parish Council is not withholding any information in scope of the request. However she finds that it contravened its obligations under section 10 of the FOIA in failing to respond to part…

The complainant requested information from the Department for Education (“the DfE”) about email correspondence regarding the “One Britain One Nation Day” initiative. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DfE failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the DfE to take…

The complainant has requested information from the Home Office relating to the e-mail inboxes of four specified individuals. The Home Office refused to disclose the requested information, citing section 12(1) of the FOIA as a basis for non-disclosure. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office has correctly applied section 12(1) of the FOIA to…

The complainant has requested information from Central Bedfordshire Council (“the Council”) relating to two specific planning applications. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to carry out a reconsideration of a response it provided, under the Environmental Information Regulations (“the EIR”), within 40 working days and has therefore breached Regulation 11 of the…

The complainant requested information relating to ‘stop and search’ activities. Bedfordshire Police provided some information but refused to provide the remainder, citing sections 24 (national security) and 31 (law enforcement) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Bedfordshire Police has failed to demonstrate that either exemption is engaged. The Commissioner requires the public authority to…

The complainant submitted a request to Bristol City Council (‘the Council’) for the name and contact details of the authorising officer of Special Education Needs funding for Bristol residents. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA.…

The complainant requested the cost to the Home Office of chartering individual flights for the purposes of deporting and/or administratively removing people from the UK. The Home Office refused to provide the requested information, citing section 43(2) (commercial interests) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office failed to demonstrate why the exemption…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Croydon about traffic measures. The London Borough of Croydon has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires the London Borough of Croydon to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. The London Borough of Croydon…

1. The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Brent (the Council) seeking planning information about a particular housing development. The Council provided him with information falling within the scope of his request and directed him to a website where further information could be found. The complainant argued that the link provided did…

The complainant has requested from the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) the minutes of a meeting that took place on 27 September 2019. TBGS responded by stating that it did not hold the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probability, TBGS does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner does not require…

The complainant has requested information relating to the funding that Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) has received from the Home Office, for the provision of care to British children returning from Syria. The Trust has relied on section 24 of the FOIA (safeguarding national security) to withhold some of the requested information.…

The complainant requested from Cheshire East Council (“the Council”) information regarding Covid-19 disbursements. The Council refused to disclose some of the information and cited section 31(1)(a) (prevention or detection of crime) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council correctly applied the exemption to the withheld information. Therefore, the Commissioner does not require…

The complainant requested a list of fee-paying schools that had charitable status. The Charity Commission originally stated that it did not hold the requested information, but later relied on section 12 of the FOIA (cost exceeds appropriate limit) to refuse the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Charity Commission is entitled to rely on…

The complainant requested data on completed appointments. Unsworth Group Practice relied on section 12(1) of the FOIA (cost of compliance) to refuse the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Practice was entitled to rely on section 12(1) of the FOIA to refuse the request. However, it failed to provide reasonable advice and assistance and…

The complainant requested information from the Department for Health and Social Care relating to emails between the UK Government and Mr Matt Hancock’s private email account(s). By the date of this notice the Department for Health and Social Care had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the…

The complainant requested information from Royal Berkshire NHS Trust (“the Trust”) about patients who presented at the emergency department and were not screened for Covid-19 at booking. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust breached section 10(1) of the FOIA by failing to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory time frame…

The complainant requested information from Telford and Wrekin Council (“the Council”) relating to the resurfacing of a specific car park. The Commissioner’s decision is that Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. As a response has subsequently been provided no steps are…

The complainant requested information from the Cabinet Office relating to a review of the refurbishment of the Prime Minister’s private accommodation at Downing Street. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. A response has subsequently…

The complainant has requested information from Manchester City Council about appeals relating to Penalty Charge Notices. The original request (‘Request 1’), and the clarification to some parts of it (‘Request 2’) was considered by the Commissioner in decision notice FS50834972. In that decision notice the Commissioner ordered the Council to provide advice and assistance in…

The complainant requested information from Maldon District Council (“the Council”) about communications between the Council and a development planning applicant or the applicant’s agents. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Southwark (“the Council”) relating to the allocation of social housing. By the date of this notice, the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Southwark (“the Council”) relating to social housing developments. By the date of this notice, the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore…

The complainant has requested information relating to complaints made about a specific councillor. The Commissioner’s decision is that Shropshire Council (the council) has not correctly applied section 40(2) FOIA. Any information the council may hold would be personal data and therefore the Commissioner is proactively applying section 40(5B) FOIA to prevent the council from confirming…

The complainant has requested any emails sent or received about the renaming of Howden Junior School’s school houses. Howden Junior School withheld the requested information under section 40(2) FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Howden Junior School (the ‘School’) has correctly withheld the requested information under section 40(2) FOIA. However, the School did not comply…

The complainant requested details of a contractor’s request to carry out soil translocation works. At various points, High Speed Two Limited relied on Regulations 12(4)(a) (information not held), 12(4)(d) (material in the course of completion), 12(4)(e) (internal communications), 13 (third party personal data), 12(5)(a) (public safety) and 12(5)(e) (commercial interests) of the EIR. By the…

The complainant requested from NHS England information relating to NHS dental services. By the date of this notice NHS England had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached regulation section 10 of…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Southwark (“the Council”) relating to the installation of fire alarms at a specific property. By the date of this notice, the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within…

The complainant has requested a list of email addresses for the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s (‘the Ombudsman’) investigators. The Ombudsman has withheld this information citing section 40(2) (personal information), and by extension 40(3)(a), of the FOIA as its basis for doing so. The Commissioner’s decision is the Ombudsman is entitled to rely upon…

The complainant has requested information relating to a report issued in 2007. The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) does not hold any information within the scope of the request. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken as a result of this…

The complainant has requested access to two closed files relating to a historic murder. The National Archives (‘TNA’) withheld the information citing section 38(1)(a) (health and safety) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption is engaged and that the public interest lies in maintaining the exemption. Therefore TNA is entitled to rely…

The complainant requested information as to whether specified offences were being investigated. The Crown Prosecution Service (the ‘CPS’) neither confirmed nor denied whether it held the requested information, citing the exemption at section 40(5) (personal information) of FOIA for the majority of the request; it responded to one part of the request. The Commissioner’s decision…

The complainant requested information held by Brighton and Hove City Council relating to the responses of any requests made under the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations. The Commissioner’s decision is that Brighton and Hove City Council (“the Council”) failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached…

The complainant requested from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) information relating to correspondence between Matt Hancock, Lord Bethell and Jonathan Marron regarding Hinpack Limited. By the date of this notice, the DHSC had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DHSC has failed to respond…

The complainant has requested schedules of DCP (damage to crown property, now known as damage to the Strategic Network) rates from Highways England (HE), matters relating to them, and a county court case. HE refused to provide the information citing section 14(1) – vexatious request. The Commissioner’s decision is that HE has cited section 14(1)…

The complainant has requested the information contained in a particular named file which has been retained by the Cabinet Office although it has been identified on the website of The National Archives. The Cabinet Office refused to provide it citing section 24(1) (national security). It upheld this position at internal review. The Commissioner’s decision is…

The complainant requested emails from Sheffield City Council (the “Council”) relating to the ‘NUM building’. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice.The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA.…

The complainant requested a copy of a response to the 2020 University Superannuation Scheme (USS) Consultation. The Governing Body of the University of Sussex refused to provide the information and relied on section 36 of the FOIA (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) in order to do so. The Commissioner’s decision is that…

The complainant has requested information from Highways England about a claim. Highways England relied on section 17(6) of the FOIA not to provide the complainant with a section 14(1) refusal notice. This is because it had previously refused requests for information on similar matters under section 14(1) as it considered those requests to be vexatious.…

The complainant has requested information relating to the employment and career pay advancement of black staff at the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust (the Trust). The Trust relied on section 12(1) of the FOIA to refuse the request, on the basis that the cost of providing the requested information would exceed the appropriate limit set…

The complainant has requested information associated with the governance of the Malvern Hills Conservators. The Charity Commission withheld the relevant information it holds under section 31(1)(g) of the FOIA (law enforcement), section 40(2) (personal data) and section 42 (legal professional privilege), with the public interest favouring maintaining the exemptions where relevant. The Charity Commission subsequently…

The complainant has requested information about the prescribing of Co-proxamol and the handling of FOIA requests. NHS Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (‘the CCG’) addressed the complainant’s questions but the complainant considers that the CCG holds relevant, recorded information with regard to four parts of his request. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance…

The complainant requested evidence, provided by the Department of Health Northern Ireland (DoH), about the wearing of face coverings on public transport. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DoH failed to issue a response to the request that complies with the requirements of section 1(1) of FOIA. In addition, the DoH breached section 10(1) of…

The complainant wrote to the public authority seeking details of remedies, compensation or any other types of payment made to tenants over a five year period in relation to repairs or improvements to the condition of their properties. The public authority refused to comply with the request on the basis of section 12(1) FOIA (compliance…

The complainant has requested information about an investigation that may have occurred as a result of a whistleblowing concern. West London NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) would neither confirm nor deny whether it held the requested information, citing section 30(3) and 30(2)(b) (investigations and proceedings) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that West London NHS…

The complainant has requested from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (the Trust) the total cost of legal services for the inquest of a named individual. The Trust cited section 12(1) of the FOIA (cost of compliance) to refuse the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust was not entitled to rely…

The complainant has requested information relating to editorial guidelines, copies of complaints, and the recruitment to a post that was then occupied by Professor Richard Sambrook. The BBC explained that the first two parts of the request were covered by the derogation from the FOIA. The BBC also stated that the third part of the…

The complainant has requested information relating to a specific planning application. Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council disclosed some information and confirmed that other information was not held. The Commissioner’s decision is that Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council disclosed all the relevant information it held in accordance with regulation 5(1), that in confirming further information was…

The complainant has requested information relating to the supply of canine cadavers to Bristol University (‘the university’). The university withheld the names and contact information of its canine cadaver suppliers under section 38(1)(b) (Health and Safety) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the university is entitled to rely upon 38(1)(b) as a basis…

The complainant requested a copy of legal advice sought in relation to disciplinary regulations. The Council of the University of Birmingham relied on section 40(1) of the FOIA (personal data of the requestor) to withhold the information, before later arguing that it was also exempt under section 42 of the FOIA (Legal Professional Privilege). The…

The complainant requested information from South Somerset District Council (“the Council”) relating to email correspondence between the chief executive and the Freedom of Information team. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. As a response has…

The complainant requested data on the number of pupils not engaging with remote lessons at school. The Department for Education initially relied on section 22 of the FOIA (intended for future publication) to withhold the information, but then reversed itself and said that it held no relevant information. The Commissioner is satisfied that, on the…

The complainant has requested information about an incident in Portrush during the “Open Week” in 2019. The Council disclosed some information but withheld the names of various individuals in reliance on the exemption at section 40(2) of FOIA (third party personal data). The complainant disputed the Council’s reliance on section 40(2) and asked the Commissioner…

The complainant has requested information associated with the awarding of a contract. Department for Education (DfE) has released some information and advised it holds no further relevant information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities, DfE holds no further information within scope of the complainant’s request and has complied with section…

The complainant requested data regarding cancer treatments. University Hospital Plymouth NHS Foundation Trust initially withheld some information, relying on section 41 (breach of confidence) and section 40(2) of the FOIA (personal data) to do so, before later disclosing it. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust has disclosed the information it holds and has therefore…

The complainant has requested information from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) concerning a memorandum of understanding between the FOS and the Information Commissioner’s Office which has now been withdrawn. The FOS refused the request, considering it to be a vexatious request under section 14(1). The Commissioner’s decision is that the FOS has appropriately cited section…

The complainant has requested the application for University status submitted by Writtle University College (“the College”). The College initially refused the request on the basis of section 43(2) of the FOIA before later amending its position to refuse the request under section 14(1). The Commissioner’s decision is that the College has demonstrated there would be…

The complainant requested some correspondence from Hart District Council (“the Council”) relating to Dogmersfield Parish Council. The Council withheld the information under section 36(2) of the FOIA: prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs. The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information comprises the personal data of the complainant, as explained in this notice.…

The complainant has requested information relating to wind turbine noise complainants. Huntingdonshire District Council confirmed that it did not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that Huntingdonshire District Council correctly confirmed that it does not hold the requested information and that it complied with regulation 5(1) of the EIR. The Commissioner does not…

The complainant has requested copies of complaints made to the Pension Regulator and any responses received. NHS Business Services Authority provided some redacted information, but withheld the remainder. It relied on section 43(2) of the FOIA (commercial interests) and section 44(1) of the FOIA (statutory prohibition on disclosure) in order to do so. The Commissioner’s…

The complainant requested from Castle Point Borough Castle information relating to financial contributions that the Council has received under Section 106 Agreements over the past 10 years. The Council disclosed some of the requested information but refused to provide the remainder under section 12 (exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit) of the FOIA.…

The complainant has requested information from The National Archives (TNA) held in closed files ‘PREM 19/4418/1 and 19/4418/2 from the open parent piece PREM 19/4418: ROYAL FAMILY. Prince Charles’ interest in youth unemployment: The Prince’s Trust; The Prince’s Youth Business Trust; part 1. TNA withheld the requested information citing section 37(1)(a) and later amended this…

The complainant requested data, relating to iPlayer usage, in a machine-readable format. The BBC provided this data, but not in a machine-readable format. The Commissioner’s decision is that the BBC has failed to comply with its obligations under section 11 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the BBC to take the following steps to ensure…

The complainant has requested correspondence relating to a contract entered into by the council with ORS, a company owned by one of the councillors. The council initially refused the request on the basis that the request was vexatious, however it subsequently disclosed the information to the complainant. The complainant accepted the majority of the information…

The complainant requested information from East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) about enforcement action in relation to a breach of planning control. The request related to an active prosecution case which was being pursued by South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC), partially on behalf of ECDC. The complainant submitted a request to SCDC for the same information,…

The complainant has requested information about enforcement action in relation to a breach of planning control. The Council supplied some information but withheld the remainder, citing the exemption in section 30(1)(b) of the FOIA – (investigations and proceedings). The Commissioner’s decision is that South Cambridgeshire District Council has correctly engaged section 30(1)(b) of the FOIA…

The complainant has requested Highways England (HE) to disclose the Cost Breakdown Document for a list of 15 sub threshold claims. HE refused the request stating that the information is not held and nor it is held by Kier Highways on its behalf. The Commissioner’s decision is that HE does hold the requested information for…

The complainant requested information relating to procurement, IT, Press Office and Communications Team activities and spend over specified years. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (the Council) refused to comply with the requests, citing section 14 (1) (vexatious request) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council correctly applied section 14. The Commissioner…

The complainant requested information from NHS England about its contract with St. Peter’s Andrology Service London and a forthcoming tender exercise for a replacement provider. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires NHS…

The complainant requested information from NHS England about two members of Midlands NHS Continuing Healthcare Independent Review Panel. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires NHS England to take the following steps to…

The complainant has requested information about trainee clinical psychologists. The University of Plymouth (‘the University’) has released some relevant information and advised that it does not hold the remaining information. The complainant considers that the University holds the information requested in part 5 of his request, has not released the information he requested in part…

The complainant has requested the total sums of money paid by the BBC to Facebook since the BBC started its Facebook page. The BBC responded to the complainant saying that the requested information was covered by the derogation and hence excluded from the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that this information was held by the…

The complainant requested information from Transport for London (TfL) relating to a number of policies/handbooks, the number of employees per area, the number of members with disabilities per area, disability impact assessments per area and various questions in two requests made on the same day. TfL aggregated the requests and refused to provide the requested…

The complainant requested information from the Ministry of Defence about a specified company. The Ministry of Defence has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires the Ministry of Defence to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. The Ministry of Defence must take these…

The complainant requested information from the Ministry of Defence about contracts with a specified company. The Ministry of Defence has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires the Ministry of Defence to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. The Ministry of Defence must…

The complainant requested information from St Helens Council about a heritage trail. St Helens Council has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires St Helens Council to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. St Helens Council must take these steps within 35 calendar…

The complainant has requested information about training in the Hare Psychopathy Checklist – Revised. Devon Partnership NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) is relying on section 12(1) of the FOIA to refuse to comply with the request as it says the cost of doing so would exceed the appropriate limit. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The…

The complainant requested information about the BBC Director General’s professional schedule and meetings during a specified period of time. Despite the intervention of the Commissioner, the British Broadcasting Corporation (the BBC) has not provided a response to the request in accordance with the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the BBC has failed to respond…

The complainant requested information from the Langley Grammar School (“the School”) about raw 11+ test marks. By the date of this notice the School had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the School has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to provide a…

The complainant requested information from the Herschel Grammar School (“the School”) about raw 11+ test marks. By the date of this notice the School had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the School has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to provide a…

The complainant requested information from the St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School (“the School”) about raw 11+ test marks. By the date of this notice the School had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the School has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to…

The complainant requested information relating to the future direction of renewable energy. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirmed it held the requested report but refused to provide it, citing regulation 12(4)(d) (material in the course of completion) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that DfI correctly applied regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR to the…

The complainant has requested statistical information relating to the adjustments made to A-level grades in 2020, based on what is known as ‘the algorithm’. The Commissioner’s decision is that Ofqual has properly engaged section 36(2)(c) (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) of the FOIA but that the public interest lies in disclosure, rather…

The complainant asked the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if a complainant had accepted or rejected a decision the FOS made. The FOS refused to provide the requested information under section 31(1)(c) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the information requested is exempt from disclosure under section 31(1)(c) and the public interest favours maintaining…

The complainant has requested information about the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. They are not satisfied with the response Devon Partnership NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) gave to three parts of the request. The Trust considers it has provided the complainant with all the relevant information it holds. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of…

The complainant requested information from the Health and Safety Executive (“the HSE”) relating to the number of HSE “spot checks” undertaken during the period April 2020 to the end of March 2021. By the date of this notice, the HSE had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the HSE…

The complainant requested information in respect of research undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Government into evictions relating to social housing, and reasons given for the non-participation of non-respondents. The Welsh Government refused to provide the requested information citing section 36(2)(c) (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) of the FOIA and during the…

The complainant requested information relating to a Local Plan. Dover District Council withheld the information under the exception for internal communications – regulation 12(4)(e). During the Commissioner’s investigation Dover District Council disclosed some of the information but retained its reliance on regulation 12(4)(e) to withhold the outstanding information. The Commissioner’s decision is that Dover District…

The complainant has requested a breakdown of the number of child maintenance cases in which a specific scenario has occurred and the sanctions that may be implemented. The Commissioner’s decision is that DWP is entitled to rely on section 12(2) of the Act to refuse to comply with the request. The Commissioner finds, however, that…

The complainant requested from HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) information relating to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”). HMRC refused to disclose some of the information and cited section 31(1)(a) (prejudice to the prevention or detection of crime) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that HMRC correctly applied the exemption to the information relating…

The complainant has submitted 10 requests to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (‘the Trust’), about a variety of matters. The Trust addressed five of the requests and refused to comply with the remaining five requests as it considered the cost of doing so would exceed the appropriate limit under section 12(1) of the…

The complainant has requested information about audience research contained in an annual report. The British Broadcasting Corporation initially refused to provide any information, but subsequently indicated where some of the information could be found and also denied holding some of the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that any information the BBC held within the…

The complainant requested information relating to an investigation into a named doctor. The Health and Social Care Board in Northern Ireland (the ‘HSCB’) provided some of the requested information but refused to provide the remainder, citing section 40(2) (personal information) of FOIA. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the HSCB revised its position and…

The complainant has requested information regarding child sexual exploitation. The Commissioner’s decision is that Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council was entitled to withhold information on the basis of section 31(1) and section 40(2). The Commissioner does not require any steps. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant submitted a request to the Royal Borough of Greenwich (the Council) seeking information about a consultation it had undertaken in relation to proposed traffic management measures in the borough. The Council provided the complainant with some of the information falling within the scope of the request but relied on section 12(1) (cost limit)…

The complainant requested various categories of data about pollution incidents over a two-year period. The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (“the MCA”) relied variously relied upon Regulations 12(4)(a) (not held), 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable) and 12(4)(d) of the EIR (material in the course of completion) to withhold information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the request engages Regulation…

The complainant requested from the London Borough of Southwark (“the Council”) information relating to a Fire Assessment Report. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has…

The complainant requested from the London Borough of Southwark (“the Council”) information on the Council’s consultation process for installing Fire Equipment at a specific location. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the…

The complainant requested information in relation to the selling of essential and non-essential items for a specific date and time during the national firebreak period in Wales during October and November 2020. The Welsh Government responded by providing an explanation in relation to its decision to close non-essential shops, and provided a link to its…

The complainant requested information on the government’s investment in OneWeb. The Commissioner’s decision is that BEIS has appropriately relied on the exemption at section 43(2), commercial interests, and the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. Powered by…

In a seven part request, the complainant has requested information about any meetings or communications between The Prince of Wales and the Chief Executive and/or the Chair of Historic Royal Palaces between January 2014 and January 2015. He has requested this information under the EIR and the FOIA. Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) released some environmental…

The complainant requested information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office about legal advice. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. Foreign, Commonwealth and…

The complainant requested information with regards to an internal system used by the Financial Ombudsman Service (the FOS). The FOS asked the complainant to refine the first part of his request, provided links to the second part and refused the part of the request asking for the index / contents page of its internal system…

The complainant requested from the Planning Inspectorate (“the PI”) information about two inspectors and their engagement in a planning appeal process. The PI disclosed part of the information requested, withheld some under regulation 13(1) of the EIR (personal information) and stated that it did not hold any further information, beyond what was already disclosed. The…

The complainant has requested information regarding fire safety measures of a specified housing development. The Commissioner’s decision is that the information is environmental and the appropriate legislation is the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). The Commissioner also finds that the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (the council) is not entitled to rely on regulations 12(5)(b)…

The complainant requested information from Ceredigion County Council (“the Council”) relating to Ysbyty Carreg Aberteifi and Aberystwyth temporary hospitals. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and…

The complainant requested information on 12 November 2019 relating to the Pay Consistency Panel at the ICO. The ICO provided information in response to the request to the complainant’s satisfaction on 6 July 2021. The ICO therefore failed to respond to this request fully within the statutory time for compliance. The Commissioner considers that the…

The complainant has requested information relating to a potential Trading Standards investigation. In relation to parts 1-6 of the request Kent County Council refused to confirm or deny whether the information was held, relying on section 44(2) of the FOIA (the exemption from disclosure for any information whose disclosure would be otherwise prohibited by another…

The complainant has requested communications between HRH the Prince of Wales and John Prescott. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has advised that it does not hold this information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities, Defra does not hold the requested information. As such, Defra complied with…

The complainant has requested a breakdown of the number of child maintenance cases in which a specific scenario occurred. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is entitled to rely on section 12(2) to refuse to confirm or deny whether it holds the requested information as to do so would…

The complainant has requested information relating to Mote Park Adventure Zone. Maidstone Borough Council initially withheld some information under the exemption for commercial interests – section 43(2) of the FOIA. During the Commissioner’s investigation the council reconsidered the request under the EIR, disclosing some information and withholding other information under the exception for commercial confidentiality…

The complainant requested information from London Borough of Croydon (“the Council”) about pre-planning application meeting reports for a proposed development. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the Council to take the following…

The complainant has requested a copy of the written statement provided by Ian Paterson to the Inquiry into his malpractice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is entitled to rely upon section 41(1) (information provided in confidence) as its basis for refusing to disclose the requested information. The…

The complainant requested information from the Ministry of Defence (“MOD”) relating to the joint service manual of the law of armed conflict (JSP 398). By the date of this notice the MOD had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MOD has failed to respond to the request…

The complainant has requested documents produced during Exercise Cygnus. The Cabinet Office relied upon section 35 (development of government policy) and section 24 (national security) to withhold the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that sections 35(1)(a) and 35(1)(b) of the FOIA are engaged in respect of this information and that the balance of the public…

The complainant has requested a breakdown of the number of child maintenance cases in which a specific scenario occurred. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is entitled to rely on section 12(2) to refuse to confirm or deny whether it holds the requested information as to do so would…

The complainant requested details of the number of out of court settlement payments made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (“the BBC”) to its employees and the value of those settlement payments by month, including details of the largest payments since 1 January 2018. The Commissioner’s decision is that the BBC failed to respond to the…

On behalf of another individual, the complainant – a firm of solicitors – has requested information about undergraduate admissions from Imperial College London (‘ICL’). ICL released some information and advised that some information is not held in an easily extractable format. ICL withheld the remaining information under section 36(2)(c) of the FOIA (prejudice to effective…

The complainant has requested information related to how the Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) conducts informal interviews of parents liable to pay child maintenance. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, DWP does not hold information falling within the scope of the request. Powered by…

The complainant has requested information relating to an award made by The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) to Mermaids UK. The Commissioner’s decision is that Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) has failed to issue a response to the request that complies with the requirements of section 1(1) of the FOIA. The Commissioner…

The complainant requested information from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy about coal excavation. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy breached section 10(1) of the FOIA by failing to provide a response within 20 working days. No steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested information from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy about coal production. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy breached section 10(1) of the FOIA by failing to provide a response within 20 working days. No steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant wrote to Warwickshire County Council (the Council) to submit a multi-part request for information related to fire incidents. The Council disclosed the information requested apart from the information related to locations of fire, for which the Council cited section 40(2) of FOIA (personal data), as the basis for its refusal to comply with…

The complainant has requested information regarding amending child maintenance payments without supporting evidence. The Commissioner’s decision is that DWP does not hold information falling within the scope of the request. The Commissioner does not require DWP to take any steps. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested from British Wool copies of minutes from Board meetings. British Wool withheld the information under section 43(2) of the FOIA (commercial interests) and section 40(2) of the FOIA (personal data). The Commissioner’s decision is that British Wool was entitled to withhold the information in relation to which it specified section 40(2) or…

The complainant has requested information about Prozac and brand name medication subscriptions. NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) released some information and in the course of the Commissioner’s investigation released more information within scope of the request. The complainant considers further relevant information is held. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities,…

The complainant requested from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (“the Borough Council”) information relating to two specific planning applications. By the date of this notice the Borough Council had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Borough Council has failed to respond to the request within 20…

The complainant has requested information from the Board of Governors of Ballyclare Secondary School (“the School”) including minutes, accounts and annual reports. The School has failed to provide a substantive response to either the complainant’s original request or her refined request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the School has breached sections 10(1) and 17(5) by…

The complainant requested information from Newcastle City Council (“the Council”) regarding a Safer Bridges Scheme and the company Eljay Research Limited. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and…

The complainant requested information from Central Bedfordshire Council (“the Council”) regarding the business rates paid in relation to specific property. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the Council to take the…

The complainant requested information regarding the possible deletion of information following an FOI request (Freedom of Information) or SAR (Subject Access Request). Development Bank Wales refused the request relying on section 14(1) (vexatious request) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Development Bank Wales was entitled to rely on section 14(1) to refuse the…

The complainant has requested information about disclosure logs. The Department of Health and Social Care (‘DHSC’) has advised that it does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities, DHSC does not hold the information the complainant has requested in the two parts of his request and…

The complainant requested information from Sheffield City Council (the Council) relating to Community Triggers meeting notes. The Council refused to comply with the request, citing section 14(1) (vexatious request) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has not demonstrated that the request was vexatious and was therefore not entitled to rely on…

The complainant requested information from Brighton and Hove City Council (“the Council”) relating to vehicle movements at a specific development site. The complainant also policy requested documents relating to the development. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council…

The complainant requested information from Brighton and Hove City Council (“the Council”) relating to the rationale and cost of erecting on a barrier at a specific location. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond…

The complainant requested from Hastings Borough Council information relating to the cancellation of Penalty Charge Notices. The Council withheld some of the requested information under section 31(1)(a) (prejudice to the prevention or detection of crime) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was not entitled to withhold the requested information under section…

The complainant has requested the number of BBC TV and radio appearances of Alistair Campbell between 1 Jan 2018 and March 2021. The BBC explained the information was covered by the derogation and excluded from FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that this information was held by the BBC for the purposes of ‘journalism, art or…

The complainant has requested information relating to bus lane convictions, specifically the location and number of penalty charge notices (PCN) issued by the five traffic enforcement cameras that generate the most PCNs. Transport for London (TfL) has withheld the requested information, citing section 31(1)(b) and 31(1)(g) (law enforcement) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is…

In a series of requests, the complainant requested information about ‘Varioguard’, a type of road barrier. Highways England has aggregated the cost of complying with the most recent request with the cost of complying with earlier requests; requests to which it had responded. Highways England refused to comply with the current request under section 12(1)…

The complainant has submitted two requests for information to HM Revenue & Customs in relation to referrals of tax evasion submitted by two specified legal entities. HMRC refused to confirm or deny it held information within the scope of the requests, relying on the exemption provided under section 31(3) (law enforcement)of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision…

The complainant has submitted two requests for information to HM Revenue & Customs in relation to referrals of tax evasion submitted by two specified legal entities. HMRC refused to confirm or deny it held information within the scope of the requests, relying on the exemption provided under section 31(3) (law enforcement)of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision…

The complainant requested information relating to the possible use of personal email addresses by officers at the Royal Borough of Greenwich (the council). The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was entitled to rely on section 14(1) when refusing to comply with the request, on the basis that it was vexatious. The Commissioner does not…

The complainant requested the text of the top ten most and least correctly answered questions on both the car and motorcycle theory tests for a three year period. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency withheld the information, relying on section 36(2)(c) of the FOIA (otherwise prejudice the conduct of public affairs) to do so. The…

The complainant requested information from Witherley Parish Council (“the Council”) relating to the Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore…

The complainant has requested Highways England (HE) to disclose the information upon which it relied to negate a previous FOIA response in 2016 (part one of the request) and any information about the termination of the pain/gain process being due to insurers’ unwillingness to pay the relevant costs (part two of the request). It responded…

The complainant requested information that he believes should have been considered as part of the inspection of a particular school. The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills refused the request as vexatious. The Commissioner’s decision is that the request was vexatious and therefore Ofsted was entitled to rely on section 14(1) of…

The complainant requested a variety of information regarding health and safety, with particular emphasis on an incident he alleges took place in 2016. Monkshouse Primary School refused the requests as vexatious. The Commissioner’s decision is that the requests were vexatious and the School was therefore entitled to rely on section 14(1) of the FOIA to…

The complainant requested information from the MPS about a specified document. The MPS has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires the MPS to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. The MPS must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date…

The complainant has requested information from the Department relating to a maintenance review. The Department of Finance (“the Department”) refused to disclose the information, citing section 33 of the FOIA as a basis for non-disclosure. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 33 of the FOIA is not engaged in relation to the requested information. The…

The complainant has requested information relating to four hunts, including internal correspondence, license information and copies of correspondence between the public authority and representatives of the aforementioned hunts. The Forestry Commission refused to provide the information, citing regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR (manifestly unreasonable request). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Forestry Commission has failed…

The complainant requested information from Caerphilly County Borough Council (“the Council”) relating to the Council’s recycling targets. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. A response has subsequently been provided and no steps are required. Powered…

The complainant has requested information about a campaign Merseyside Police ran to encourage people to report hate crime. The Commissioner’s decision is that Merseyside Police failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires Merseyside Police to issue a substantive response, under…

The complainant has requested to re-use templates of the council’s Penalty Charge Notice letters, which he initially received from the council in response to an earlier FOI request. The council accepts that it initially disclosed the information to him, however it considers that, in retrospect, it did so in error, and would not disclose that…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (“NHS England”) relating to the tendering process that resulted in Fit Test training collaboration with Respiratory Protective Assessment Limited. By the date of this notice NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has breached…

The complainant requested information from the Department of Health and Social Care (‘DHSC’) regarding the Health Secretary’s contacts and communications with a named individual about health related contracts during the pandemic. The Commissioner’s decision is that DHSC failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the…

The complainant requested information about the number of reported incidents for a specified rail network and time period. British Transport Police (‘BTP’). BTP advised that to comply with the request would exceed the appropriate limit at section 12 of FOIA. The complainant did not consider that BTP had provided him with adequate advice and assistance…

The complainant submitted a 16 part request to the London Borough of Waltham seeking information about related to Council properties and the “Right to Buy” scheme. The Council provided some of the information requested, refused to comply with one part of the request based on extensive costs it would incur, relying section 12(1) of FOIA,…

The complainant requested copies of correspondence between the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the Home Secretary between 1 June 2020 and 31 July 2020. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MPS failed to respond to the…

The complainant has requested information from Sheffield City Council regarding information in relation to the cancellation of the Castlegate Conservation Area consultation. Sheffield City Council has not provided a substantive response to the complainant’s request. It is the Commissioner’s view that Sheffield City Council has beached regulations 5(2) of the Environmental Information Regulations (“the EIR”)…

The complainant has requested from the Home Office, information regarding the citizenship status of a named individual. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office is entitled to rely on section 40(5) of the FOIA, to refuse to confirm or deny that it holds the information. The Commissioner does not require the Home Office to…

The complainant has requested information from the Executive Office (EONI) regarding the amount of money provided to SAVIA (Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse). The EONI disclosed some of the requested information to the complainant, with personal information redacted as per the provisions of section 40 of the FOIA. It also withheld some information, citing…

The complainant requested from Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council (“the Council”) information relating to a planning application reference LA01/2018/0134/F. The Council provided the complainant with some information relating to his request, and confirmed that these are the only minutes that the Planning Department hold. The Council stated that it does not hold any other…

The complainant has requested details about the Project Alpha database from the Metropolitan Police Service (the “MPS”). The MPS provided some of the requested information but refused the remainder citing the exemptions at sections 31(1)(a) and (b) (Law enforcement) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 31(1) is properly engaged and that the…

The complainant has requested information about the Alternative Dispute Resolution (‘ADR’) Regulations. The Financial Ombudsman Service (‘FOS’) has refused to disclose the requested information under section 21(1) of the FOIA as it considers the information is already reasonably accessible to the complainant by other means. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: FOS is entitled to…

The complainant requested information from the Health and Safety Executive (“HSE”) relating to an investigation concerning an addressed property. The Commissioner’s decision is that the HSE failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached regulation 5(2) of the EIR. The Commissioner requires the HSE to respond to the complainant’s…

The complainant requested information from North Yorkshire County Council (the Council) relating to an Ofsted inspection at Lady Lumley’s School, Pickering in 2019. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days…

The complainant requested various information held by Westminster City Council (the Council) regarding a specified property. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of…

The complainant requested information regarding the availability of specialist psychiatric beds for young people with eating disorders. The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) acknowledged the request on 23 March 2021 but had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond to…

The complainant has requested information associated with a planning application. Dartmoor National Park Authority (‘DNPA’) has disclosed information it holds that is within scope of the request, but the complainant considers that DNPA holds further relevant information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: Other than one letter to the complainant discussed at paragraph 22 of…

1. The complainant requested a copy of a response provided by Sheffield City Council (the Council) to The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) as a result of their investigation into a recent complaint. Sheffield City Council acknowledged the request on 11 February 2021 but had failed to provide a substantive response by the…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (“NHS England”) relating to a grant of £540,000 made to the Apperta Foundation CIC by NHS England. By the date of this notice NHS England had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has failed to respond to…

The complainant has requested a variety of information regarding the use of canine cadavers. The Council of the University of Liverpool provided some of the information and relied on sections 43 (commercial interests) and 41 (breach of confidence) of the FOIA respectively to withhold some information. It also stated that it did not hold some…

The complainant has requested correspondence between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) from 2019 to 13 March 2020 regarding its release of data under the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002. The complainant also requested any legal advice regarding that regulation from the five years prior to…

The complainant requested information from Bedford Borough Council (“the Council”) relating to the items considered during Council meetings. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has…

The complainant requested copies of correspondence relating to the Government’s agreement of an emergency funding package for Transport for London. The Department for Transport relied on sections 35 (formulation of government policy) and 41 (breach of confidence) of the FOIA to withhold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 35 of the FOIA…

The complainant requested information relating to a planning enforcement case. Cornwall Council variously relied upon Regulation 12(5)(b) (administration of justice), Regulation 12(5)(f) (voluntary supply) and Regulation 13 of the EIR to withhold information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has correctly relied upon Regulations 12(5)(b) to withhold information and that the balance of the…

The complainant has requested planning performance agreement information from the London Borough of Lambeth (“LB Lambeth” or “Lambeth Council”). LB Lambeth refused to provide this citing FOIA section 43 (prejudice to commercial interests) and upheld this at internal review. During the Commissioner’s investigation, LB Lambeth changed its position and sought to rely on EIR regulation…

The complainant has requested details of applications made to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) beyond the visual line of sight. This is what is known as BVLOS applications. The complainant specifically requested the BVLOS applications from January 2019 to the date of their request. The CAA refused to provide…

The complainant has requested statistics regarding people deported under the UK Borders Act 2007 from the Home Office. The Home Office refused to disclose the requested figures citing the exemptions at sections 27(1)(a) (International relations) and 31(1)(e) (Law enforcement) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that neither exemption is engaged. The Commissioner requires the…

The complainant has requested information from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (the Council) about any planning, inspections and building controls carried out on a specified property. The Council had failed to provide a response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request…

The complainant requested information from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) relating to the Sky Sabre, Sea Ceptor and Land Ceptor weapons systems. By the date of this notice the MOD had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MOD has failed to respond to the request within 20…

The complainant has requested the Canal and River Trust (the trust) to disclose a copy of report 445, which provided an update to the board at the meeting of 21 November 2019 on the situation at, and plans for, Toddbrook Reservoir in Whaley Bridge. The trust refused to disclose the requested information citing regulation 12(4)(e)…

The complainant has requested the DVLA to disclose the registration marks linked to previously commercially owned vehicles from the date the DVLA stopped including this information on the V5C log book up to the cost limit. The DVLA refused to comply with the request citing section 14(1) of the FOIA. It also cited section 17(6)…

The complainant has requested the DVLA to disclose the registration marks linked to previously commercially owned vehicles from its vehicle database up to the cost limit of £600. The DVLA did not respond to the request, relying on section 17(6) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DVLA is entitled to rely on…

The complainant requested information from the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire (OPFCC) relating to the role of a named individual within the Civil Disclosure Unit. The OPFCC refused to comply with the request, citing section 14(1) (vexatious request) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the request was…

The complainant has requested information from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) which had been provided to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The request concerns the FOS’s requirements as a certified alternative dispute entity as set out in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulations 2015. The FOS provided some information but withheld part of the information citing…

The complainant requested information from the Cabinet Office about a ‘blog’ published by the government, which rebutted the contents of an article published in the Sunday Times. The Cabinet Office initially refused the request under section 12 of the FOIA (exceeds appropriate cost); it subsequently stated that the requested information was not held. During the…

The complainant requested an inspection report relating to St Helens College. St Helens Council (the council) initially refused the request under sections 30 (investigations) and 31 (law enforcement) of the FOIA, but following an internal review, relied only on section 30(1)(a)(i) of the FOIA to uphold its refusal. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 30(1)(a)(i)…

The complainant requested copies of minutes from the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) of any meetings regarding a recent High Court case and amendment to the service specifications for the Gender Identity Development Service for children and adolescents. NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s…

The complainant has requested information regarding pre-application advice given for a development. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council do not hold any information in scope of the request. The Commissioner does not require any steps. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested information from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) about the total amounts claimed by MPs for the Congestion Charges and Ultra Low Emission Zones administered by Transport for London. The IPSA had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the IPSA failed…

The complainant has requested information associated with the revocation of Group 1 driving licences for failure to meet the minimum visual field standards. The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has categorised the request, and five earlier requests broadly about the same matter, as vexatious requests under section 14(1) of the FOIA and has refused…

The complainant has requested information relating to the mandatory requirement to wear face coverings. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has correctly cited section 35(1)(a) in response to the request. The Commissioner does not require DHSC to take any steps as a result of this decision notice. Powered…

The complainant requested information from the Information Commissioner’s Office (“the ICO”) in relation to the registration of IG Compliance Limited. The Commissioner’s decision is that the ICO has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory time frame of 20 working days.…

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Waltham Forest (the Council) seeking information about personal data breaches. It provided some of the information sought, explained that it did not hold other parts of the information and relied on section 12(1) (cost limit) of FOIA to refuse parts of the request. The complainant…

The complainant requested information from Kent County Council (the Council) regarding payments made by the Council to individuals with significant control of each of the Council’s wholly owned trading vehicles. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond…

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Hackney (the Council) seeking information about a facility used as part of its Family Learning Intervention Programme. The Council provided the complainant with a response to her request, initially withholding part of a relevant document. It subsequently provided the complainant with an unredacted version of…

The complainant has requested information held by Herefordshire Council (the council) about various matters relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The council provided the complainant with a response to parts 3 and 4 of his request. However, it advised that it was refusing to provide information relevant to part 1 of the request, which asked for…

The complainant requested information, in a multi-part request, relating to planning matters. Shropshire Council (the Council) denied holding some information within the scope of the request and stated that it had already provided some relevant information. It withheld the remaining information within the scope of the request, citing regulation 12(4)(d) (information in the course of…

The complainant requested details of three reports which he believed to have been relevant to the content of a July 2019 geotechnical report commissioned by Hastings Borough Council (the council). He also asked for copies of these reports. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council does not hold the report described within part 1 and…

The complainant requested information from Warwick District Council (“the Council”) relating to parking complaints within a specific area. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) relating to the issuing of DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) notices for covid-19 patients with learning difficulties. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond to the request for information within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 (time…

The complainant has requested information relating to Prince Andrew from the Metropolitan Police Service (the “MPS”). The MPS refused to confirm or deny holding the information, citing the exemptions at sections 24(2) (National security), 31(3) (Law enforcement), 38(2) (Health and safety) and 40(5) (Personal information) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MPS…

The complainant has requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) relating to the document ‘Prescribing Outlook 2020’ from the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service website. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond to the request for information within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 (time for compliance with…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (“NHS England”) relating to the correspondence between NHS England and McKinsey & Co. By the date of this notice NHS England had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has failed to respond to the request within 20…

The complainant asked South Gloucestershire Council to provide him with all the information it held about a property he owned especially information regarding rights of way across a section of common land. South Gloucestershire Council provided a considerable volume of information in response to this request and other related freedom of information and subject access…

The complainant submitted a request to the Department for International Development (now part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – FCDO) seeking audits, evaluations and reports into the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The FCDO explained that it did not hold any audits. It also explained that it held one…

The complainant has requested information associated with a municipal waste incinerator from Public Health England (PHE). PHE’s position is that it does not hold the requested information, which the complainant disputes. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities, PHE does not hold the health report, yearly reviews or patient admittance and…

The complainant submitted a request to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO now part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, FCDO) seeking information about the publication and reception of a book published in 1979, ‘Countercoup’, which concerned the deposition of the Iranian Prime Minister in 1953. The FCO refused to confirm or deny whether…

The complainant has requested minutes of meetings relating to the Board of Governors of Ballyclare Secondary School and their Finance Sub-Committee. The EANI provided the complainant with the requested Board of Governors meeting minutes, however it stated that it did not hold the Finance Sub-Committee meeting minutes. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance…

In a two part request, the complainant requested from Highways England communications its Green Claims team has had with Kier, one of its contractors. Highways England categorised the first part of the request as originally framed as a vexatious request under section 14(1) of the FOIA and refused to comply with it. Once the complainant…

The complainant has requested information regarding specific scenarios that may be encountered when calculating child maintenance payments. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not hold information falling within the scope of the request. The Commissioner does not require DWP to take any steps. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested the testimonies which formed the basis of an independent report (the Robin Holden report) commissioned by Betsi Cadwaladwr University Health Board in 2013. Betsi Cadwaladwr University Health Board refused the request relying on sections 36(2)(b)(ii) and 36(2)(c), section 40(2) and section 41 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Betsi Cadwaladwr…

The complainant requested information relating to a project about how to support prisoners’ contact with family and loved ones. Initially, only one presentation (‘P1’) was identified in scope by the Ministry of Justice (the ‘MOJ’), which was withheld on the basis of sections 35(1)(a) (formulation of government policy) and 43(2) (commercial interests) of the FOIA.…

The complainant, acting on behalf of a client, has requested information pertaining to a complaint submitted against its client by a particular individual. The Financial Services Ombudsman (“the FOS”) initially relied on sections 40 (personal data), 41 (breach of confidence), 21 (reasonably accessible) and 31 (prejudice to a law enforcement function) of the FOIA to…

The complainant has requested specimen certificates for each register maintained by the General Register Office. The Home Office agreed to disclose electronic specimen certificates, but to date it has not done so. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office has breached section 1 and section 10 of the FOIA by failing to disclose the…

The complainant requested information from Witherley Parish Council (“the Council”) relating to the Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached…

The complainant has requested information from the Department for Infrastructure (“the Department”) regarding work in relation to weed control and Japanese Knotweed.  The Department provided the complainant with some information, refused to disclose some information citing regulation 12(5)(e) of the EIR as a basis for non-disclosure, and applied regulation 12(4)(b) to the remaining requested information. …

The complainant requested planning information from Three Rivers District Council. Three Rivers District Council failed to respond within 20 working days, as specified in the EIR. The Commissioner requires Three Rivers District Council to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under the EIR within 35 calendar days…

The complainant requested details of meetings with Thomas Cook Group. The Department for Transport originally relied on section 22 of the FOIA (intended for publication) to withhold the requested information, before later relying on section 43 (commercial interests) and section 35 (formulation of government policy) or section 36 (effective conduct of public affairs) “in the…

The complainant has requested 11-plus test results and information associated with researchers seeking access to the National Pupil Database.  The University of Cambridge (‘the University’) withheld the raw test result data under section 43(2) of the FOIA (commercial interests), released standardised test result data and advised it does not hold the information associated with researchers.…

The complainant requested information relating to a planning application. Somerset County Council, (the Council), provided some information within the scope of the request but denied holding further information. The complainant considered that the Council held further information within the scope of his request. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the Council…

The complainant requested an advice note relating to a planning matter. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council (the ‘Council’) initially refused to provide the advice note, citing Regulation 12(5)(b), (the course of justice and inquiries), of the EIR. Following its internal review, the Council revised its position and instead relied upon Regulation 12(5)(f) (interests…

The complainant requested information from Northumbria Police about the status of staff.  Northumbria Police failed to respond to this request within the 20 working day time scale of the FOIA. No steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested information from Northumbria Police about its application a legal test.  Northumbria Police failed to respond to this request within the 20 working day time scale of the FOIA. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested from the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames (“the Council”) information regarding payments to service providers during the pandemic. The Council refused the request as it considered that compliance with it would exceed the cost limit under section 12(1) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was entitled to…

The complainant requested information from the Council of the University of Sheffield (“the University”) relating to the grading of Medical students at the University. By the date of this notice the University had not provided a substantive response to the requests. The Commissioner’s decision is that the University has failed to respond to the requests…

The complainant requested from the London Borough of Sutton (“the Council”) information regarding payments to service providers during the pandemic. The Council refused the request as it considered that compliance with it would exceed the cost limit under section 12 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was entitled to rely on…

The complainant requested information about how Staffordshire Police recorded an incident of theft that he had reported. Staffordshire Police refused to disclose the information under the FOIA, citing the non disclosure exemption at section 40(2) (personal information). However, it disclosed most of the complainant’s own personal data to him under the subject access provisions of…

The complainant has requested various costs and fees paid associated with an apprenticeship campaign overseen by the Department for Education (DfE). The DfE provided some of the information but refused to provide the specific fees paid to a number of individuals as it considered they were third party personal data and therefore exempt from disclosure…

In three requests the complainant has requested information associated with the 1995 BBC Panorama interview with Diana, The Princess of Wales. The BBC refused to comply with the requests as it considered that the requested information was held for the purposes of journalism and was therefore derogated information and outside the scope of the FOIA.…

The complainant requested numbers of insurance fraud investigations undertaken in relation to vehicle crime from West Midlands Police (WMP). WMP advised that to provide the requested information would exceed the cost limit at section 12(1) (Cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that WMP was entitled to rely on…

The complainant requested information from Sussex Police about a Specialist Enforcement Unit.  Sussex Police has failed to complete its public interest test considerations within a reasonable time in accordance with its obligations under the FOIA. Sussex Police must provide a substantive response to the request within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision…

The complainant has requested information about night watches and buildings insurance in the wake of the Grenfell Tower Fire.  The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) initial said it did not hold any information falling within the scope of the request, and on review withheld all information citing section 12 of the FOIA…

The complainant has requested a copy of the council’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP) as regards its waste functions. The council refused the request on the basis that Regulation 12(5)(a) applied (international relations, defence, national security, or public safety). On review it upheld its decision but did disclose some sections of the BCP. The complainant argues…

The complainant has requested information the BBC holds that sets out when staff can volunteer information in response to an FOI request in cases where the request is for information that is derogated from the FOIA.  The BBC has advised that it does not hold information within the scope of the request. The Commissioner’s decision…

The complainant requested information relating to Trans Awareness Training delivered to Tribunal judges. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) stated that the requested information was not held for the purposes of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information is not held by the MoJ for the purposes of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires no…

The complainant has requested information about gift, hospitality and conflict of interest registers from High Speed Two Limited (HS2 Ltd).  HS2 Ltd is relying on section 14(1) of the FOIA (vexatious request) because of the burden it considers is involved in preparing the information for release. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: HS2 Ltd is…

The complainant has submitted an information request to the General Medical Council (the GMC) that refers to three investigation cases.    The GMC has refused to confirm or deny it holds information within the scope of the request, under section 40(5B)(a)(i) of the FOIA (personal data), as to do so would disclose individuals’ personal data. The…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) regarding Individual Funding Request applications determined by NHS England from 1 January 2013 to the date of the request. NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond…

The complainant requested information from the BBC about taxi bookings which were made through the BBC’s central booking system and their overall costs. The Commissioner’s decision is that the BBC has breached section 10(1) of the FOIA in that it failed to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory time frame of…

The complainant requested information concerning a particular development. Swansea Council (‘the Council’) refused to comply with the request, citing regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR as it considered the request to be manifestly unreasonable. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was entitled to refuse the request under regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR and that the public…

The complainant requested information from Knowsley Council (“the Council”) relating to Non-Domestic Rates Liability Orders. The Council stated that any such disclosure regarding the Liability Orders granted by the Court is a matter for Merseyside Magistrates’ Courts, it considered the request to be exempt information and cited section 21 (information reasonably accessible by other means)…

The complainant requested information from Bassetlaw District Council (the Council) relating to cycle and walking audits of Retford and for information relating to a Green Flag award for Kings Park, Retford. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to…

The complainant requested information about Universal Credit payments received by landlords. The Department for Work and Pensions provided some information, but withheld the remainder – relying on section 40(2) of the FOIA to do so. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DWP does not in fact hold the information within the scope of element [1]…

The complainant requested information from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) about a 2 year contract awarded to Palantir Technologies. The DHSC had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DHSC failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and…

The complainant requested information from The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) regarding the NHS Nightingale hospitals. NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of…

The complainant requested information from The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) about any services provided to the NHS Executive Group by an external organisation between 1 January 2020 and the date of the request. NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS…

The complainant requested information from Bristol City Council (the Council) about how the Council had calculated the cost of the damages caused to the statue of Edward Colston on 7 June 2020. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed…

The complainant requested information from Witherley Parish Council (the Council) regarding the consultants considered by the Council as part of the Neighbourhood Development Plan process. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response to the request by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the…

The complainant has requested a full unredacted copy of an ICO audit report into the DVLAs data protection practices. The ICO refused the request on the basis of section 31, 40 and 44 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the section 31(1)(g) exemption with section 31(2)(a) and (c) is engaged and the public…

The complainant requested information relating to advice and requests for approvals to Ministers following the collapse of Thomas Cook. The public authority withheld the information held within the scope of the request (the disputed information) on the basis of the exemptions at sections 35(1)(a), 35(1)(b), 40(2) and 43(2) FOIA. The Commissioner concluded that the public…

The complainant has submitted a seven part information request to Transport for Greater Manchester in relation electric charging points for vehicles in various locations in Greater Manchester. TfGM provided part of the information requested and stated that it did not hold the remainder. The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities, TfGM does…

The complainant requested the contact details of an indemnity insurer. Following its internal review, the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) took the position that the information was not held. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the requested information is not held. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken.…

The complainant has requested information relating to work done on his property and attached buildings. The council initially applied section 12 after estimating that providing the information would exceed the appropriate limit. During the Commissioner’s investigation it reconsidered the request and said that, on reflection, no information is held falling within the scope of the…

The complainant requested particular meeting minutes from Peterlee Town Council (‘the Council’) and the Council has released the relevant information it holds. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The Council breached section 10(1) of the FOIA as it did not comply with section 1(1) within the statutory timeframe of 20 working days following the date…

The complainant has requested information from the closed file MEPO 3/341.  The National Archives (TNA) has withheld the information under section 40(2) of the FOIA because it says it is the personal data of a third person. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The requested information is exempt from disclosure under section 40(2) of the…

The complainant has requested information regarding a planning application. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead were correct to withhold information on the basis of regulations 12(5)(b) and 13(1). She also finds that on the balance of probabilities, the council does not hold any further information in scope of the…

The complainant requested information from High Speed Two (HS2) Limited (“HS2”) about properties it had purchased since its inception. HS2 initially considered the request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). It disclosed some randomised information, but said that it could not provide the information as requested (in the form of a spreadsheet with…

The complainant requested from the Ministry of Justice (“the MOJ”) information relating to the First-Tier Information Rights Tribunal. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MOJ failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. No steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant submitted a request to the Cabinet Office asking whether their Propriety and Ethics team held any information about non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) between Mr Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State, and members of the civil service.  The complainant was not seeking the details or…

The complainant has requested the number of complaints the BBC received about the daily broadcast of Scotland’s First Minister’s COVID-19 briefings. The BBC responded to the complainant saying that the requested information was covered by the derogation and hence excluded from the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that this information was held by the BBC…

The complainant submitted two requests, seeking the same information, to HM Treasury (HMT) asking for a list of communications and documents held by it relating to Lydian International’s Amulsar gold mining project in Armenia. HMT sought to withhold the information on the basis of regulation 12(5)(a) (international relations) of the EIR. It subsequently withdrew its…

The complainant has requested copies of parish council meeting minutes. The Commissioner’s decision is that Ditchling Parish Council is entitled to rely on the exemption at section 21, However, it breached section 10(1) in responding to the complainant outside of statutory time periods. The Commissioner does not require any steps. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant has requested information in relation to the construction of a road near their property. The Commissioner’s decision is that Lancashire County Council is entitled to rely upon regulation 12(4)(b) and that the public interest rests in maintaining this exception. However, the Commissioner finds that the council breached regulation 14 in its handling of…

The complainant has requested information relating to the development of Princes Parade, Hythe. The council provided some information however the complainant argued that further information must be held. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation the council located further information and did not apply any exceptions. It did not, however, respond to the Commissioner when…

The complainant submitted a request to the Cabinet Office seeking information about the Broadlands Archive dating from 1987 to 1989. The Cabinet Office located one document falling within the scope of the request but sought to withhold this on the basis of section 21(1) (information reasonably accessible to the requester), albeit that it subsequently voluntarily…

The complainant has requested copies of governing bodies and head teachers’ responses to a consultation run by the council relating to its ‘Schools for the Future’ project. The council provided some information but refused to provide the majority on the basis that section 41 of the Act applied (information provided in confidence). In the internal…

The complainant submitted a request to the Cabinet Office seeking a schedule of information falling within the scope of two previous FOI requests he had submitted to it. The Cabinet Office refused to comply with the request on the basis of sections 14(1) (vexatious) and 14(2) (repeated request) of FOIA. The Commissioner concluded that the…

The complainant requested information from the Welsh Government about the 2016 Exercise Cygnus pandemic drill and connected issues relating to: widespread infection and disease; PPE equipment; care homes; coronavirus assistance offered by the EU; testing and quarantine at Welsh ports and airports; and, border control. The Commissioner decided that the cost to the Welsh Government…

The complainant requested information about monies owed, and other associated details, by a named goldmining company to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (‘PSNI’). PSNI denied holding some of the requested information. For the majority of the request, it refused to confirm or deny whether the information was held on the basis that, if held,…

The complainant has requested information relating to late responses to subject access requests (SARs).The Commissioner’s decision is that Northumbria Police has correctly cited section 12(1) – cost of compliance, in response to the request. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps as a result of this decision notice. Powered by…

The complainant has requested the minutes of the government’s Windrush Commemorative Committee (WCC) and evidence of settlers’ arrival from the Caribbean in the 1950s/60s at Waterloo Station. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) withheld the minutes citing section 35(1)a – information relating to the formulation of government policy. It said it did…

The complainant requested information relating to a long-standing complaint about a family grave. Sunderland City Council (the Council) refused to comply with the request under the criteria for section 17(6) of the FOIA (refusal of request). The Commissioner’s decision is that the request was vexatious and the Council was entitled to apply section 14(1) of…

The complainant has requested Highways England (HE) to provide a breakdown of the number of emails or communications sent between certain email addresses and any Highways England/Agency email address over a four year period. HE refused to comply with the request, citing section 12 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that HE is entitled…

The complainant requested details of complaints and responses made about a specified officer of Caerphilly County Borough Council (the ‘Council’) in relation to a specific issue. The Council refused to confirm or deny whether there had been any complaints, on the basis that to do so would in itself breach data protection principles, citing section…

St Thomas More Catholic High School (‘the School’) is a member of the South Cheshire Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, which is the responsible public authority for the purposes of this decision. The complainant submitted a request to the School for information associated with a disability discrimination claim.  The School released relevant information it holds but the…

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (the Council) containing a number of questions about the ‘Liveable Streets’ project in Bethnal Green. The Council provided some information in response to the request, explained that some information was not held, and refused part of the request on the basis of section…

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Waltham Forest (“the Council”) about the history of the poor state of repair of her property. The Council initially refused to provide the information, considering that it comprised the personal data of previous occupants. Subsequently, it provided some information, which it extracted from a spreadsheet. However,…

The complainant submitted a request to the Insolvency Service seeking information about its process for considering applications for Debt Relief Orders (DRO). The complainant also sought information about a specific DRO awarded to a named third party. The Insolvency Service provided the complainant with some information about the process of DROs. It sought to withhold…

The complainant requested from Nottingham College (“the college”) information regarding the amount spent on external consultants. The Commissioner’s decision is that the college was entitled to withhold the requested information under section 43(2) of the FOIA (commercial interests). The Commissioner also finds that the college did not comply with its obligations under section 17 of…

The complainant has requested copies of any correspondence and communications to the Secretary of State for International Trade from The Duke and Duchess of York concerning the late Jeffrey Epstein or his business and charitable organisations made between the period 1 January 2003 to 1 June 2003. The Department for International Trade (DIT) refused to…

The complainant has requested copies of any correspondence and communications to the Prime Minister from The Duke and Duchess of York concerning the late Jeffrey Epstein or his business and charitable organisations made between the period 1 January 1998 to 1 June 1998. The Cabinet Office refused to confirm or deny whether it held the…

The complainant submitted two requests to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) for its “report into complaints against government departments for 2018/19.” The PHSO refused to provide the information as it considered it to be exempt from disclosure under section 22(1) of the FOIA (information intended for future publication). The Commissioner is satisfied that…

The complainant submitted to Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust a 110 part request for information relating to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), serious incidents, restraints, seclusion and medication errors. The Trust refused to comply with the requests as it said it would exceed the cost limit under section 12(1) FOIA to do so. The…

The complainant requested from the BBC the number of reports on the news and / or digital platforms covering the Infected Bloody Inquiry. The BBC responded that the requested information was covered by the derogation and hence excluded from the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that this information was held by the BBC for the…

The complainant requested information relating to the second generation of the council website, as well as copies of timesheets for the proper officer. The Commissioner’s decision is that Morecambe Town Council breached sections 1 (general right of access) and 10 (time for compliance) of the FOIA, by failing to disclose to the complainant information to…

The complainant submitted a request to the Cabinet Office seeking correspondence between the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and HRH The Prince of Wales concerning hunting during the period January 2003 to January 2004. Under FOIA the Cabinet Office refused to confirm or deny whether it held any such information on the basis of section…

The complainant requested the raw data used to compile performance figures for Cardiff Bus’ customer charter. Cardiff Bus withheld the information requested under section 43 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Cardiff Bus has incorrectly applied the provisions of section 43 and the exemption is not engaged. The Commissioner requires Cardiff Bus to…

The complainant has requested information regarding the number of Russian nationals that were applicants and those that were offered a place on the mathematical computation course in the academic year 2020/21 at University College London (UCL) and other related matters. UCL disclosed some information but withheld the exact number of Russian applicants/offerees for the course,…

The complainant requested information relating to the Council’s duties under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) Operating Guidance. The Council refused the two requests because it said they were not valid requests for recorded information. The Commissioner’s decision is that both requests were valid under section 8 of FOIA. Consequently the Commissioner finds…

The complainant has requested information from Cherwell District Council (“the Council”) in the form of Building Control Plans regarding a neighbouring property. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was correct to apply Regulation 13(1) of the EIR to the requested information. The Commissioner does not require the Council to take any further action in…

The complainant made an identical request for information to one that another individual had already made. The Council of the University of Durham refused this new request as vexatious. The Commissioner’s decision is that the University has not demonstrated that the request was vexatious and was therefore not entitled to rely on section 14(1) of…

The complainant requested Information regarding planning permission relating to a specific house. The Commissioner’s decision is that Fareham Borough Council (“the Council”) has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached Regulation 5(2) of the Environmental Information Regulations (“the EIR”). As a response has now been provided to the…

The complainant has requested information about LLB law degree examinations from the University of London (‘the University’). The University has refused the request under section 43(2) of the FOIA (commercial interests) and considers that the public interest favours maintaining this exemption. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The University is entitled to withhold the requested…

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Waltham Forest (the Council) seeking information about a gas purchasing consortium of which it was a member. The Council provided the complainant with some of information falling within the scope of her request but explained that it did not hold information about who the other…

The complainant has requested the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to provide all documents of any kind which contain any mention of the term ‘functus officio’ for the period 1 August 2016 to 1 February 2018. The PHSO refused to disclose the requested information, citing sections 40, 42 and 44(1)(a) of the FOIA. The…

The complainant requested information from Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation (“UKRI”), about a successful application for funding for a University Enterprise Zone. UKRI disclosed part of the application, but withheld some information under the following exemptions of the FOIA: section 41(1) – information provided in confidence, section 43(1) – trade secrets, and/or…

The complainant has requested information from Highways England about damage to crown property (DCP) rates and related matters. Highways England provided some limited information to the complainant but mostly stated that it did not hold the information the complainant requested. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probability, Highways England does not hold…

The complainant requested information relating to the BBC’s spend on the World Service. The BBC responded that the requested information was covered by the derogation and hence excluded from the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that this information was held by the BBC for the purposes of journalism, art or literature and so was not…

The complainant has requested from Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare Trust (“the Trust”), information regarding the names of doctors who left comments in medical notes. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust was entitled to withhold the requested information under section 40(2) of the FOIA.  The Commissioner does not require the Trust to take any…

The complainant requested from Felton Parish Council (“the Council”) information relating to a printer bought by the Council in 2013 and disposed of in 2019. The Council subsequently located some information which related to part 2 of the request and provided this to the complainant. With regard to the remaining parts of the request, the…

The complainant requested information from NHS Improvement (NHSI) relating to an independent review published in 2020. NHSI had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHSI failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA.…

The complainant requested information held by Bristol City Council (the Council) relating to the main entrance area of Bristol City Council House between 2014 to 2020. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the request within…

The complainant requested information from Bicester Town Council (“the Council”) relating to allotment tenancy agreements. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council responded to the request within 20 working days as required by section 10 of the FOIA. No steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested information from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets about payments.  The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. The London Borough…

The complainant requested from Three Rivers District Council (“the Council”) information relating to the granting of planning permission. By the date of this notice the Council had yet to respond substantively to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and has therefore…

Summary wording for website: The complainant requested information relating to complaints received by the BBC about four programmes. The BBC responded that the requested information was covered by the derogation and hence excluded from the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that this information was held by the BBC for the purposes of journalism, art or…

The complainant has requested information relating to the Mathematical Computation Progamme at University College London (UCL). UCL provided information in response to the first thirteen questions of the request but withheld the information requested in the final unnumbered part of the request – documentation relating to applications – citing section 43(2)(commercial interests). The Commissioner’s decision…

In a multi-part series of requests, the complainant has requested information from Highways England on a variety of matters broadly associated with the National Schedule of Repair Costs scheme.  Highways England has refused to comply with the requests under section 12(1) of the FOIA as it considers the cost of doing so would exceed the…

The complainant has requested from the London Borough of Sutton (“the Council”) information in two parts regarding criminal records relating to individuals residing at particular properties. The Council withheld the information as it considered to be the personal data of the individuals concerned and exempt under section 40(2) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is…

The complainant requested information from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (“the Council”) relating to the collection of garden waste. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council failed to respond to the requests within 20 working days and therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. No steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant has requested information a proof of ownership certificate on a piece of land relating to a planning application made to the council. The council provided details which it holds on the planning application and argue that it has disclosed the certificate it holds, however the complainant disputes that this is a valid ownership…

The complainant requested information relating to the proof which the council had of the ownership of a piece of land subject to a planning application in 2000. The council provided details of the planning application however it redacted the name provided in the declaration of the ownership of the property on the basis that that…

The complainant requested information about police collar numbers. West Yorkshire Police (‘WYP’) provided some of the requested information but refused to provide the remainder, citing section 40(2) of the FOIA, the exemption for personal information. The Commissioner’s decision is that WYP was correct to rely on section 40(2) to withhold the remaining information for the…

The complainant requested a copy of a central database of outstanding prison repair or maintenance work. The Ministry of Justice (the ‘MOJ’) initially refused to provide any of the requested information citing section 31(1)(f), the exemption for law enforcement, specifically the maintenance and security of good order in prisons. Following an internal review, the MOJ…

The complainant requested from the University of Winchester (“the University”) information relating to the purchase of a plot of land on Lommedal, Milnthorpe Lane, Winchester. The University withheld the information and applied regulations 12(4)(e) (internal communications and 12(5)(e) (commercial confidentiality) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that the University correctly applied regulations 12(4)(e) and…

The complainant has requested expense information relating to Carrie Symonds. The Cabinet Office denied holding any information within the scope of the request and upheld this at internal review. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office does not hold any information within the scope of the request. No steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested information from the BBC about how much it had spent in defending an equal pay claim brought by the journalist Samira Ahmed. The BBC withheld the information, citing the exemption at section 43(2) of the FOIA: prejudicial to commercial interests. Belatedly, it stated that it also considered that part of the requested…

The complainant requested information relating to a meeting between the council and the Yorkshire Local Council’s Association (the YLCA). The council provided a copy of a report, however, the complainant requested the attachments that were submitted along with the report. The council did not respond to this until 26 January 2021. The Commissioner’s decision is…

The complainant has requested information from Birmingham Metropolitan College (“the College”) on payments made to external management and training companies within a specified time period. The College stated it could not comply with the request without exceeding the appropriate cost limit under section 12 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the College correctly…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) about NHS England patient mental health guidelines issued during the Covid-19 pandemic and related information. By the date of this notice the NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has breached section…

The complainant has requested information associated with the HS2 high speed rail project. High Speed 2 Ltd (‘HS2 Ltd’) released some information and has advised it does not hold other information the complainant has requested. The complainant is not satisfied with HS2 Ltd’s response to two parts of his request. The Commissioner’s decision is as…

The complainant has requested the Department for Transport (DfT) to disclose the details of any meetings between ministers and/or senior officials and Carnival UK between 1 January and 1 March 2019. The DfT disclosed some information but withheld the remainder citing sections 35(1)(a), 35(1)(d) and 40 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the…

The complainant requested information from the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England) about the postponing and cancelling of operations by NHS England during the Covid-19 pandemic. By the date of this notice the NHS England had failed to provide a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has breached section 10(1)…

The complainant has requested information about death rates. The position of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) is that it does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities, the Trust does not hold the information the complainant has requested and has complied…

The complainant has requested communications between the ICO and NHS Improvement about a FOI complaint the ICO considered under reference FS50800552. The ICO released some information and withheld some under section 40(2) of the FOIA (personal data) and section 44(1)(prohibitions on disclosure). The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The ICO is entitled to withhold some…

The complainant has requested information from West Suffolk Council (“the Council”) regarding meeting minutes and emails between Councillors, Councillors and staff members and submissions from the public in relation to the West Suffolk Parking Review Group. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has correctly relied upon section 40(2) of the FOIA to withhold the…

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Waltham Forest (the Council) which included a number of questions mainly focused on water collection arrangements. The Council provided the complainant with information in response to her request. The complainant questioned whether the Council had provided her with all of the information falling within the…

The complainant has requested the Department for Digital, Media and Sport (DCMS) to disclose information relating to the government’s announcement on 16th October 2019 to not commence Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA). DCMS refused to disclose the requested information citing section 35(1)(a) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that DCMS…

The complainant requested the addresses of two “orphaned” onshore oil and gas wellbores. The Environment Agency relied on Regulation 13(1) of the EIR to withhold the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that Regulation 13(1) of the EIR is not engaged in respect of this information. The Commissioner requires the EA to take the following steps…

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Waltham Forest (the Council) seeking information about previous FOI requests made to it about Ascham Homes. The Council responded to the request by directing the complainant to the What Do Know website and explained that it did not hold any further information about the previous…

The complainant requested from the NHS Commissioning Board (“NHS England”) information relating to the role of Chief Dental Officer and the committees or bodies that advise the Office of the Chief Dental Officer. By the date of this notice NHS England had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that…

The complainant requested planning information from the London Borough of Southwark. The London Borough of Southwark failed to respond within 20 working days, as specified in the EIR. The Commissioner requires the London Borough of Southwark to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under the EIR within…

The complainant has requested various information in respect of a review of a number of care plans relating to the City and County of Swansea Council’s Social Services department. The City and County of Swansea Council stated that it held no written information falling within the scope of the request. The complainant was not satisfied…

The complainant has requested information relating to the relocation of a farm in Nunthorpe.  Middlesbrough Council disclosed some information and withheld other information under the exceptions for commercial confidentiality (regulation 12(5)(e)) and personal data (regulation 13(1)). The Commissioner’s decision is that Middlesbrough Council has correctly withheld the information in part 4 of the request under…

The complainant has requested information regarding safety inspections in relation to a specific road.  Birmingham City Council disclosed some information and withheld other information under the exception for the course of justice – regulation 12(5)(b) of the EIR.  The Commissioner’s decision is that Birmingham City Council has correctly withheld the information in part 1 of…

The complainant requested from Cambridgeshire Constabulary (the Constabulary) information in relation to a particular case. The Constabulary refused to confirm or deny holding the information requested relying on section 40(5A) of FOIA, stating that if the requested information was held, it would be the complainant’s own personal data. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Constabulary…

The complainant made two requests for information from the London Borough of Southwark (the Council). The first request was for information regarding Council funding of third party groups and the second was for correspondence and impact assessments relating to Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes. The Council had failed to provide a substantive response to either request…

The complainant has requested information from Highways England about one of its contractors: Kier Highways Ltd.  Highways England has categorised the request as a vexatious request under section 14(1) of the FOIA and has refused to comply with it. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The complainant’s request is a vexatious request under section 14(1)…

The complainant requested information on Covid-19 recovery rates. The British Broadcasting Corporation (“the BBC”) explained that the information was covered by the derogation and excluded from FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that this information was held by the BBC for the purposes of ‘journalism, art or literature’ and did not fall inside the FOIA. The…

The complainant has requested from the Department for Education (DfE) information about whether Dominic Cummings had had any complaints made about him whilst working as a special adviser for Michael Gove at the DfE. The DfE refused to confirm or deny whether there had been any complaints as to do so would in itself breach…

The complainant requested from Northumberland County Council (“the Council”) information for the specific constituencies relating to the Electoral Commission. The Council considered that it does not hold this information for the purposes of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information is not held by the Council for the purposes of the FOIA,…

The complainant has requested information from Avon and Somerset Metropolitan Police (“the Police”) regarding crime reference numbers/incident numbers made by a missing person, in the year leading up to them going missing. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Police are entitled to rely on section 40(5) to refuse to confirm or deny that it holds…

The complainant requested information from HM Treasury about the national debt. The Commissioner’s decision is that HM Treasury failed to respond to the request within 20 working days and therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. No further steps are required. Powered by WPeMatico

The complainant requested information relating to support for children during Covid-19 and for information relating to the senior leadership at the School. The School failed to respond to this request within the statutory time for compliance. The Commissioner considers that the School has breached section 10(1) FOIA in the handling of this request. The Commissioner requires…

The complainant has requested information from the Council regarding registration of social workers. The Council refused to disclose some of the requested information, citing section 40(2) of the FOIA as a basis for non-disclosure. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has correctly applied section 40(2) of the FOIA to the requested information. The Commissioner…

The complainant requested information regarding the funding of pathology services. St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust initially withheld all relevant information, but partially withdrew its reliance on the exemption and disclosed some information during the internal review process. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust did not comply with its duties under section 1…

The complainant has requested various communications relating to a planning enforcement matter. Elmbridge Borough Council disclosed some information and withheld the reminder under the exceptions provided by regulations 12(4)(e) and 12(5)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council is entitled to withhold the information under regulations 12(4)(e) and 12(5)(b).…

The complainant has requested the agendas, minutes and other information associated with specific meetings on particular dates. West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) provided some information and its position is that it does not hold any further information falling within scope of the request. The complainant disputes this. The Commissioner’s decision is as…

The complainant has requested information relating to the formulation and publication of the Data Protection Impact Assessment for the process by which GPs share Covid-19 data. NHS Digital withheld some information and relied on section 22 of the FOIA to do so. It refused the remainder of the request and relied on section 12 of…

The complainant has requested information relating to the abandonment of the procurement of services. NHS England has failed to provide a response to the request in accordance with the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS England has failed to respond to the complainant’s request of 28 July 2020 within 20 working days of receipt…

The complainant has requested from Sheffield City Council (SCC) information, in general terms, about the medical qualifications of staff working in its Adult Social Care Commissioning Team (ASCCT). SCC refused to comply with the request on the grounds that it engaged sections 14(1) (Vexatious requests) and 14(2) (Repeated requests) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision…

The complainant has requested information on the underlying calculations to determine the cost, reported as £1 trillion, to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Commissioner’s decision is that HM Treasury (“HMT”) has appropriately applied the exception at regulation 12(4)(e) as the request involves the disclosure of internal communications. However, the Commissioner finds that…

The complainant requested information from the Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) relating to correspondence between the Health Minister, Lord Bethel, and Portland Communications. By the date of this notice the Council had not provided a substantive response to this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DHSC has failed to respond to the…

The complainant has requested information about eIDAS – that is, electronic identification and trust services.  The Financial Conduct Authority (‘the FCA’) has said it does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: On the balance of probabilities, the FCA does not hold the specific information requested and has complied with section…

The complainant has requested information about a grant awarded to a named rural centre.  The Rural Payments Agency (‘RPA’) has refused to disclose the information under regulation 12(3) of the EIR as it considers it to be the personal data of third persons. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The requested information is the personal…

The complainant has requested information relating to a planning application.  Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Council disclosed some information and withheld other information under the exception for the course of justice – regulation 12(5)(b).  The Commissioner’s decision is that Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Council failed to disclose information within the statutory time limit and…

The complainant requested information from the Cabinet Office about ministerial meetings.  The Cabinet Office has failed to respond to this request. The Commissioner requires the Cabinet Office to provide the complainant with a response to this request in accordance with its obligations under FOIA. The Cabinet Office must take these steps within 35 calendar days…

The complainant requested from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) information in relation to two specific devices. The MHRA refused to comply with the complainant’s request citing section 44(1) (prohibition on disclosure) of the FOIA as its basis for this refusal. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MHRA has correctly applied section 44(1)…

The complainant has requested from Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (the Trust) contracts with car parking management services providers.                         The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities the requested information is not held. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken as a result of this decision. Powered by WPeMatico