Information Commissioner's Office

Home Office

4 July 2007, Central government

The complainant requested anonymised information relating to two infringements of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and a letter sent from the Home Office to the Crown Prosecution Service. The Home Office refused to disclosure the information under sections 30, 36, 38 and 44 of the Act. The Commissioner investigated and found that section 30 and 36 were engaged but that the public interest in maintaining the exemption did not outweigh the public interest in disclosure; that section 38 was engaged but that the public interest lay in maintaining the exemption and that section 44 was engaged. The Commissioner requires the Home Office to disclose the information withheld under sections 30 and 36 to the complainant within 35 calendar days from date of this notice. An appeal was made to the Tribunal but later withdrawn.

FOI 30: Upheld