Summary: The complainant has requested information relating to the system of specific designation of courses for higher education student support. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) provided most of the information it held, or otherwise directed the complainant to where relevant information could be located, but withheld the remainder under section 40(2) (third party personal data), section 42(1) (legal professional privilege) and section 43(2) (commercial interests) of FOIA. The complainant has confirmed that he does not require the Commissioner to consider the information withheld under section 40(2) of FOIA. It has therefore been left to the Commissioner to consider DBIS-™ application of the other exemptions. The Commissioner has found that section 42(1) of FOIA is engaged and that the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. However, he has also decided that section 43(2) of FOIA is not engaged and therefore requires BIS to disclose the information to which this particular exemption has been applied.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 42 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 43 - Complaint Upheld