Information Commissioner's Office

Financial Services Authority

4 September 2008, Education (Other)

The complainant made over forty requests for information from the FSA regarding Halifax PLC and Halifax Insurance Ireland Limited. The FSA responded to most of the questions but initially refused to answer three of the requests under sections 21, 31, 43 and 44. During the course of the investigation the FSA explained that it was now seeking to withhold the information under section 12 as to locate and retrieve the information would exceed the appropriate cost limit. The Commissioner has investigated and found that the FSA were correct to rely on section 12 to withhold the information, however in failing to inform the complainant of its reliance on this exemption in the refusal notice the FSA breached the requirements of section 17(5) of the Act. This decision notice is currently under appeal to the Information Tribunal.

FOI 12: Not upheld FOI 13: Upheld FOI 17: Upheld