Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested information from the University of Oxford (the -�University-�) concerning scientific experiments carried out on a macaque that was featured in a BBC television documentary. The University provided some information however withheld the remaining information on the grounds that it was exempt under section 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the -�Act-�), and explained that to release it would be likely to endanger the health and safety of individuals. This decision was upheld at the internal review stage. During the investigation, the University disclosed some further information to the complainant. The Commissioner-�s decision is that the remaining disputed information is exempt from disclosure under section 38(1)(a) and (b) of the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. The Commissioner has also recorded a number of procedural breaches of the Act. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2009/0076 has been dismissed.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 1 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 38 - Complaint Not upheld