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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Information Commissioner's Office >> Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Decision Notice) [2011] UKICO FS50341647 (13 September 2011)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2011/FS50341647.html
Cite as: [2011] UKICO FS50341647
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Decision Notice) [2011] UKICO FS50341647 (13 September 2011)
Summary: The complainant requested records of governmental discussions which took place between the United Kingdom and France and the United States following the television interview of President Chirac on 10 March 2003 (closely preceding the decision of the British Government to go to war with the United States against Iraq.) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed that it held five documents in total which came within scope of the request. A sixth document came to light during the course of the Commissioner-™s investigation. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office withheld five of the six documents under sections 27(1)(a) and 27(2). In addition to these exemptions, the remaining document (a note of a telephone discussion between Prime Minister Blair and President Bush) was also withheld under section 35(1)(a). During the course of the Commissioner-™s investigation, the FCO disclosed five of the six documents to the complainant. Latterly, the FCO confirmed that in addition to section 27, it was relying upon section 35(1)(b) (rather than 35(1)(a)) and, in the alternative, section 36 to withhold the note of the telephone conversation. The Commissioner decided that the withheld information was exempt under section 27 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure of most of it. With regard to the remaining information (identified in the confidential annex to this Decision Notice) the Commissioner accepts that this information is exempt under both section 27 and section 35(1)(b), but considers that the balance of the public interest favours disclosure. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2011/0225 dismissed.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 27 - Complaint Partly Upheld, FOI 35 - Complaint Upheld