Information Commissioner's Office

Cabinet Office

24 November 2015, Central government

The complainant requested information from the Cabinet Office relating to the appointment of qualified persons within the Public and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). The Cabinet Office refused this request under section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) because it considered complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office correctly refused the request under section 12(1) of the Act. However, the Cabinet Office breached section 16 of the Act as it failed to give adequate advice and assistance to the complainant when handling her request. The Cabinet Office has also breached section 17(5) of the Act as it did not provide its refusal notice within 20 working days. The Commissioner does not require the Cabinet Office to issue a new response as a separate request with a reduced scope has already been submitted by the complainant.

FOI 12: Not upheld FOI 16: Upheld FOI 17: Upheld