Department for Business Innovation and Skills

The complainant submitted a number of requests to Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) concerning the meeting between Lord Mandelson and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi which took place in May 2009. The complainant was provided with some information in response to his requests but BIS withheld the minute of the meeting on the basis of section 27(1)(a) of the Act. The Commissioner has concluded that section 27(1)(a) is engaged and in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure of the information.