Information Commissioner's Office

National Archives

29 October 2015, Central government

The complainant has requested information about material that has been redacted and/or removed from the file PREM 19/588 which is available to view in the National Archives. TNA refused to provide the requested information under section 23(1), section 36(2)(b)(ii) and 36(2)(c) and 40(2) FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that TNA has correctly applied section 23(1), section 36(2)(b)(ii) and section 40(2) to the withheld information apart from, in relation to the redaction of one name throughout, which the Commissioner considers was incorrectly withheld under section 40(2) FOIA. The Commissioner requires TNA to remove the redactions to the name, but not contact details, of the individual referred to in the Confidential Annex attached to this 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 23: Not upheld FOI 36: Not upheld FOI 40: Partly upheld