Information Commissioner's Office

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

21 August 2014, Central government

The complainant has requested from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (“Defra”) information relating to communications between Defra and the Country Land and Business Association (“CLA”), the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (“GWCT”), the National Trust (“NT”), the National Farmers Union (“NFU”), the Countryside Alliance (“CA”) and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (“FWAG”). The information requested concerns the issues of badgers, badger culling and badger vaccination. Defra provided some information and sought to rely upon regulations 12(4)(a) and regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR as a basis for not providing some of the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exceptions are engaged and that, in all the circumstances, the public interest favours maintaining the exception. He therefore does not require Defra to take any steps to comply with the legislation.

EIR 12(4)(a): Not upheld EIR 12(4)(b): Not upheld