Information Commissioner's Office

HM Treasury

3 July 2014, Central government

The complainant has requested information relating to the meetings of the Joint Oversight Board (JOB) about the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS). The Treasury provided some of the requested information but withheld the greater part under sections 29(1)(a) (the economy), 35(1)(a) (formulation and development of government policy), 36(2)(b)(ii) and (c) (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) and 43(2) (commercial interests). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Treasury correctly applied section 36(2)(b)(ii) and section 29(1)(a) to different parts of the requested information, finding in each case that the balance of the public interest favoured maintaining the exemption. He does not therefore require any steps to be taken as a result of this notice.

FOI 29: Not upheld FOI 36: Not upheld