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 263635 (14 November 2023)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2023/263635.html
Cite as: [2023] UKICO 263635

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Department for Work and Pensions

The complainant submitted a request to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) seeking a specific piece of information relating to its handling of an ongoing FOIA request. DWP initially responded to the request but at internal review introduced section 14(1) (vexatious) and section 14(2) (repeated request) of FOIA. The Commissioner has concluded that the request is neither vexatious nor repeated and therefore DWP is not entitled to rely on section 14(1) or section 14(2) in response to the request. The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation: Issue a fresh response to the complainant’s request dated 6 August 2023 which does not rely on section 14(1) or 14(2). 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 14: Complaint upheld

Decision notice: 263635