Information Commissioner's Office

Royal Parks

29 September 2015, Other

The complainant has requested the percentage given to The Royal Parks (“TRP”) from the sale of Christmas trees at Bushy Park. TRP refused to provide this citing section 43(2) (commercial interests exemption). It upheld this at internal review. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, there was some uncertainty as to whether TRP actually held the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that TRP holds the requested information and cannot rely on section 43(2) as a basis for withholding it. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the requested information. 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 43: Upheld