Information Commissioner's Office

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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Information Commissioner's Office >> Cabinet Office (Central government) [2023] UKICO 84065 (24 March 2023)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2023/84065.html
Cite as: [2023] UKICO 84065

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Cabinet Office

The complainant has requested information about action taken by Prime Minister David Cameron to address an 11% pay increase recommended by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). The Cabinet Office confirmed that they held information within the scope of the request but that the information was exempt from disclosure in its entirety under sections 35(1)(a), (b) and (d)(formulation or development of government policy). During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation the Cabinet Office withdrew their reliance on section 35(1)(d)(operation of any Ministerial private office) and confirmed that they were applying section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) in the alternative to section 35(1)(a). The Commissioner’s decision is that section 35(1)(a) is engaged to the entirety of the withheld information but that the balance of the public interest favours disclosure of the information. The Commissioner requires that the Cabinet Office take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation. • Disclose the withheld information within scope of the request to the complainant. The Cabinet Office must take this step 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 the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.

FOI 35(1)(a): Complaint upheld

Decision notice: 84065