Information Commissioner's Office

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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Information Commissioner's Office >> Department for Work and Pensions (Central government) [2023] UKICO 223724 (18 September 2023)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2023/223724.html
Cite as: [2023] UKICO 223724

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Department for Work and Pensions

The complainant has requested the Universal Credit Programme Board [UCPB] meeting minutes from February 2020. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) originally relied on section 21, reasonably accessible to the applicant, and section 35(1)(a), formulation or development of Government policy. During the course of the investigation, DWP introduced section 31(1)(a), law enforcement, and section 40(2), personal data. The complainant confirmed that they did not dispute the redaction of junior civil servants’ personal data under section 40(2). The Commissioner’s decision is that section 21 is not engaged, section 31(1)(a) is not engaged, section 35(1)(a) is not engaged for some of the withheld information and where it is engaged the balance of the public interest favours disclosure. The Commissioner requires DWP to disclose the requested information with the exception of the personal data of junior civil servants. 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 FOIA and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.

FOI 31: Complaint upheld FOI 21: Complaint upheld FOI 35: Complaint upheld

Decision notice: 223724