Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested information held by the Cabinet Office concerning the identification of the July 7 2005 suicide bombers. The Cabinet Office refused to disclose this information citing the exemption contained at section 31 of the Act (law enforcement). In correspondence with the Commissioner the Cabinet Office also argued that some of the information falling within the scope of the request was exempt on the basis of section 23 of the Act. The Commissioner is satisfied that some of information is exempt on the basis of section 23(1) and that the remaining information is exempt on the basis of sections 31(1)(a) and that the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. However, the Commissioner has also concluded that the Cabinet Office breached section 17 of Act by failing to provide the complainant with a refusal notice within 20 working days of his request and by failing to inform the complainant that it considered some of the information exempt under section 23 of the Act.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 23 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 31 - Complaint Not upheld