Summary: The complainant made a request to Her Majesty-™s Treasury for information concerning Treasury involvement in connection with the Legal Services Bill. In particular the complainant was looking for information relating to the exemption of government lawyers from paying practising fees. The Treasury refused to disclose the requested information citing the exemption at section 35 of the Act. The Commissioner found that the exemption at section 35 was engaged and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information. The Commissioner therefore found that the Treasury had acted correctly in withholding the information. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2010/0081 part-allowed.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 35 - Complaint Not upheld