Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant asked the Cabinet Office whether the Wilson Doctrine remained in force, and wished to know the number of occasions on which MPs' phones had been tapped. The Doctrine states that if the telephone calls of Members of Parliament are tapped the Prime Minister will make an announcement to that effect at a time he judges to be consistent with the requirements of national security; equally any alteration to the Doctrine would be similarly announced when the Prime Minister considered it safe to do so. The Cabinet Office refused the request and declined to confirm or deny whether it held the requested information. The Commissioner upholds the refusal of the request and the reliance placed on the exemptions at section 23 and 24 of the Act relating to security bodies and national security. However, he also considers that a more detailed explanation of the grounds for refusal should have been supplied. The Cabinet Office has subsequently provided such an explanation, and the Notice does not therefore specify any steps to be taken to achieve compliance with the Act. The Infomation Tribunal has ruled on this decision and has dismissed this appeal.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 1 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 23 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 24 - Complaint Upheld