Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested all records the Cabinet Office holds about the discussion of the Olympics which occurred at the Cabinet meeting of 30 January 2003. The Commissioner has established that the information that the Cabinet Office holds which falls within the scope of this request comprises the formal Cabinet minute and notes of the meeting made by the Cabinet Secretary and another senior civil servant. The Cabinet Office argued that the requested information was exempt from disclosure on the basis of the exemptions contained at section 35(1)(a) (formulation and development of government policy) and section 35(1)(b) (Ministerial communications). The Commissioner has concluded that all of the information falling within the scope of this request is exempt by virtue of section 35(1)(b) and in all of the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 35 - Complaint Not upheld