Information Commissioner's Office

HM Land Registry

7 July 2015, Central government

The complainant has requested information from Land Registry about land owned by British and overseas companies. Land Registry initially refused the request relying on FOIA section 21 - information accessible to applicant by other means. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, Land Registry stated that it did not wish to rely on section 21 to refuse the request but would instead rely on section 31 – law enforcement. Land Registry notified the complainant accordingly. The Commissioner’s decision is that Land Registry has correctly applied section 21 to the request and his investigation will not therefore consider the application of section 31. He does not require Land Registry to take any further steps.

FOI 21: Not upheld