Information Commissioner's Office

Cabinet Office

18 June 2015, Central government

The complainant requested information relating to polling conducted about the Scottish independence referendum. The Cabinet Office confirmed that it held information relevant to the request but needed further time to consider the balance of the public interest. The Commissioner’s decision is that Cabinet Office has breached section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) as it has not provided a full response within the statutory time limit. The Commissioner requires the public authority issue a response to the complainant’s request in accordance with the Act by either complying with section 1(1)(b) or issuing a valid refusal notice. The public authority must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.

FOI 1: Upheld FOI 10: Upheld