Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested copies of proposal forms for Free Schools, together with copies of communications between the Department for Education (the -�DfE-�) and several third parties. The DfE disclosed some information. However, it also withheld some information under the future publication exemption (section 22); the formulation of government policy exemption (section 35(1)(a)); the effective conduct of public affairs exemption (sections 36(2)(b)(i), 36(2)(b)(ii) and 36(2)(c)); the third party personal information exemption (sections 40(2) with 40(3)(a)(i)); and the commercial interests exemption (section 43(2)). The Commissioner-�s decision is that the DfE has correctly relied upon sections 22, 35(1)(a), 36(2)(c), and 40(2) with 40(3)(a)(i) to withhold the outstanding information. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 22 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 35 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 36 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 40 - Complaint Not upheld