Manchester City Council

The complainant requested details of benefit payments made to a named individual. The Council refused to confirm or deny whether it held information falling within the scope of the request and cited the exemption under section 40(5)(b)(i) of the Act. The Commissioner finds that confirming or denying whether the requested information is held would disclose personal data and would breach the first data protection principle. Therefore the Commissioner is satisfied that the Council correctly applied section 40(5)(b)(i) of the Act and no further steps are required. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2009/0091 withdrawn.