Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant made an information request to the British Broadcasting Corporation (the -�BBC-�) for information about the salary and expenses of a named BBC presenter. The BBC refused to provide the requested information claiming that it was outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act (-�the Act-�) because it was held for the purposes of journalism, art or literature. Although all of the requested information was deemed to fall outside of the Act, the BBC did advise the complainant that the salary details had already been voluntarily disclosed by the presenter and indicated where that information could be found. The Commissioner focussed his decision on the outstanding information about expenses and has concluded that it is held to a significant extent for the purpose of journalism, art or literature. Therefore the BBC was not obliged to comply with Parts I to V of the Act.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 1 - Complaint Not upheld