Information Commissioner's Office

Law Commission

16 January 2008, Central government

The complainant requested information relating to exchanges between the public authority and Parliamentary Counsel in connection with specific work undertaken by the public authority. The public authority refused to disclose the requested information, citing sections 36 and 42. The Commissioner finds that section 42 was applied correctly. As this decision relates to all the withheld information, the Commissioner has not reached a conclusion as to whether section 36 was applied correctly. The Commissioner also finds that the public authority failed to comply with the Act in that it did not issue the refusal notice within 20 working days of receipt. This breach does not necessitate remedial action.

FOI 42: Not upheld