Information Commissioner's Office

BBC

25 March 2008, Other

The complainant requested details of the expense statements submitted by Andrew Marr and Natasha Kaplinsky. The BBC refused to provide the information on the basis that it was not a public authority in relation to the complainant’s request because the information was held for the purpose of journalism, art or literature within the meaning set out in Schedule 1 of the Act. As an alternative argument the BBC has applied the exemption under section 12 of the Act to withhold the information from the complainant. After a careful evaluation of the nature of the request, and the relevant provisions of the Act, the Commissioner’s decision is that the BBC has incorrectly applied Schedule 1 and that the information is held for purposes other than those of journalism, art and literature. The Commissioner also finds that the exemption under section 12 is engaged and suggests that the BBC contact the complainant in order to refine his request in line with its duty under section 16 of the Act. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2008/0043 has been dismissed.

FOI 12: Not upheld