Information Commissioner's Office

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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Information Commissioner's Office >> Cabinet Office (Central government) [2022] UKICO ic-81103 (19 April 2022)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2022/ic-81103.html
Cite as: [2022] UKICO ic-81103

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Cabinet Office

The complainant submitted a request to the Cabinet Office seeking correspondence between the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, and HRH The Prince of Wales concerning hunting during the period June 2001 to June 2002. Under FOIA the Cabinet Office refused to confirm or deny whether it held any such information on the basis of section 37(2) of FOIA, by virtue of section 37(1)(aa) (communications with the heir to the Throne), section 40(5) (personal data) and 41(2) (information provided in confidence). Under the EIR, the Cabinet Office initially relied on regulation 13(5)(a) (personal data) to refuse to confirm or deny whether it held any environmental information. It subsequently withdrew its reliance on that exception and confirmed to the complainant, under the EIR, that it did not hold any environmental information falling within the scope of the request. The complainant challenged the Cabinet Office’s position that it did not hold any environmental information falling within the scope of the request, as well as its reliance on the FOI exemptions cited. The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities the Cabinet Office does not hold any environmental information falling within the scope of the request. He is also satisfied that under FOIA the Cabinet Office is entitled to rely on section 37(2) to refuse to confirm or deny whether it holds any information.

EIR 12(4)(a): Complaint not upheld FOI 37: Complaint not upheld

Decision notice: ic-81103