Information Commissioner's Office

---

You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Information Commissioner's Office >> Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Central government) [2018] UKICO fs50709892 (24 April 2018)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2018/fs50709892.html
Cite as: [2018] UKICO fs50709892

---

[New search] [Printable PDF version] [Help]

---

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The complainant submitted a request to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for information about the kidnapping and murder of British journalist and UN aid worker, Alec Collett, that took place in Beirut during March 1985. The FCO disclosed some information but sought to withhold further information on the basis of the following sections of FOIA: 24(1) (national security); 27(1)(a), (c), (d) and 27(2) (international relations); 38(1)(a) (health and safety); 40(2) (personal data) and 41(1) (information provided in confidence). The FCO also sought to refuse to confirm or deny whether it held any further information falling within the scope of the request on the basis of the exemptions contained at sections 23(5) (security bodies) and 24(2) of FOIA. The Commissioner has concluded that he FCO is entitled to rely on all of the above exemptions in the manner it which is has. However, she has also concluded that the FCO breached section 17(3) by failing to complete its public interest test considerations within a reasonable timeframe.

FOI 40: Complaint not upheld FOI 41: Complaint not upheld FOI 17: Complaint upheld FOI 27: Complaint not upheld FOI 38: Complaint not upheld FOI 24: Complaint not upheld FOI 23: Complaint not upheld

Decision notice: fs50709892