Summary: The complainant requested public documents from the Home Office UK Border Agency relating to the applications for naturalisation of two named individuals. The public authority refused the request on the basis that the requested information constitutes the personal data of the individuals concerned and disclosure would breach the principles set out in the Data Protection Act 1998. The Commissioner found the public authority in breach of the procedural requirements of sections 1(1)(a) and 10(1) in its handling of the request because it failed to inform the complainant that it did not hold any public documents relating to the request. However the Commissioner requires no remedial steps to be taken.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 1 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld