Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant submitted a request in two parts to the Cabinet Office (CO) focussing on the involvement of Gordon Brown in the sale and development of land in the immediate vicinity of the British Library. The CO replied stating that to comply would exceed the cost limit at section 12(1) of the Act. The Commissioner is satisfied that the CO has provided a reasonable estimate which demonstrates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed £600 and thus the CO is entitled to refuse to fulfil the request. The Commissioner asked the CO to consider the possibility that the information was environmental in nature and that therefore the request should be examined with reference to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). The CO did not engage with this reasoning. However, the Commissioner considers that the information can still be considered as exempt under regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR. The Commissioner finds that the CO provided sufficient advice and assistance to fulfil its obligation under section 16 of the Act and regulation 9(1) of the EIR.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 12 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 16 - Complaint Not upheld, EIR 9 - Complaint Not upheld, EIR 12.4.b - Complaint Not upheld