Information Commissioner's Office

Cabinet Office

7 March 2016, Central government

The complainant has requested information about breaking of diplomatic relations between Syria and the UK during 1986. The Cabinet Office refused to confirm or deny it held information within the scope of the request, citing section 23(5) (security bodies) or section 24(2) (national security) as its basis for doing so. It also cited section 27(4) (international relations). It upheld this at internal review. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office is entitled to rely on section 23(5) and section 24(2) as its basis for refusing to confirm or deny whether the requested information is held. No steps are required.

FOI 23: Not upheld FOI 42: Not upheld