Information Commissioner's Office

Cabinet Office

23 July 2015, Central government

The complainant has requested information relating to Sir Jeremy Heywood’s meetings with a number of newspapers. This information was described in five requests. The Cabinet Office initially refused under section 23 (security bodies) and section 35 (formulation/development of government policy) but amended its position with regard to section 35 at internal review. Instead it sought to rely on provisions of section 36 (effective conduct of public affairs).  During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, it asserted that it did not hold the information described in the first of the five requests. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office is entitled to rely on section 23 and section 36 as a basis for withholding the requested information. He is also satisfied that the Cabinet Office does not hold the information described in the first of the five requests. No steps are required.

FOI 23: Not upheld FOI 36: Not upheld