Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: On 02 June 2009 the complainant requested information from the Cabinet Office relating to the -�dossier-� on Iraq-�s weapons of mass destruction. The Cabinet Office delayed providing a substantive response for nine months by extending the time needed to consider the public interest test a considerable number of times. As the Commissioner has considered this complaint before the completion of an internal review he has found the following breaches of the Freedom of Information Act. The Cabinet Office are in breach of section 1(1)(a) and section 10(1) for failing to confirm whether information was held within 20 working days. The Cabinet Office are also in breach of section 17(1)(a), 17 (1)(b), 17 (1)(c) and 17(2) for failing to issue a refusal notice specifying an exemption it was relying on to withhold information or an estimate for the completion of the public interest test.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld