Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant asked for information about the investigation into the leaking of a confidential briefing document to the press. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office refused to supply the information stating that it was exempt under section 30(1)(b). It later submitted that the information was exempt under section 31(1)(a), (b) and (g) and section 40. The Commissioner found that section 40 was engaged in respect of some of the personal data contained in the withheld information. He found that neither section 30 nor 31 were engaged. He decided that the information not covered by the section 40 exemption should be released. The Commissioner also found the FCO had breached procedural requirements of the Act. This decision notice is currently under appeal to the Information Tribunal.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 30 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 31 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 40 - Complaint Partly Upheld