Link for IOC full Decision notice pdf file: Department for Education (Central government) [2024] UKICO 318601 (28 November 2024)
The complainant has requested all copies of draft responses to the Office for Students (OfS) -˜Consultation on Data Futures and data Collection'. The Department for Education (the DfE) initially refused the request under section 35(1)(a) of FOIA but later withdrew it and cited section 36(2)(c) - prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs. The Commissioner's decision is that the DfE cited section 36 appropriately and that the public interest favours non-disclosure. The Commissioner does not require further steps.