Information Commissioner's Office

HM Revenue and Customs

2 November 2015, Central government

The complainant submitted a request to the public authority for the names and direct telephone numbers of managers and team leaders within the Benefits and Credit team. The public authority withheld the information in reliance on the exemptions at sections 31(1)(g) (by extension, section 31(2)(a)) and 40(2) FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority was entitled to withhold the information described as “the disputed information” in the body of this notice in reliance on section 31(1)(g) and section 31(2)(a) by extension. He however finds the public authority in breach of section 10(1) FOIA for failing to respond to the request within 20 working days. No steps required.

FOI 10: Upheld FOI 31: Not upheld FOI 40: Not upheld