Information Commissioner's Office

Post Office

30 November 2005, Other

The complainant made a request for information about the standard of customer service at a branch of the Post Office in Clapham. The Post Office refused the request on the basis that the majority of the information which had been requested was not held and that the information they did hold was exempt under section 43 in that its disclosure would be prejudicial to the Post Office's and others commercial interests. The Commissioner decided that the exemption had been correctly applied. This is because the information included public relations and marketing strategies which could be copied and used by the Post Office's commercial rivals in their own businesses. The public interest rests in preserving a level playing field for the commercial activities the Post Office is engaged in. The Commissioner is also satisfied with the Post Office's assurances that they do not hold any further information.

FOI 43: Not upheld