12 October 2015, Central government
The complainant submitted five questions about the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the European Convention on Human Rights. The AGO did not treat the questions as requests for information under the FOIA however the Commissioner considers that it should have done. During the Commissioner’s investigation the AGO confirmed that it did not hold any recorded information in relation to the requests. The Commissioner considers that, on the balance of probabilities, the AGO does not hold any of the requested information. In failing to inform the complainant that no information was held within twenty working days the AGO breached sections 1(1)(a) and 10(1) of FOIA. However, in light of his findings above the Commissioner does not require the AGO to take any steps as a result of this decision.
FOI 1: Upheld FOI 10: Upheld