Attorney General's Office

The complainant made a freedom of information request to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) for a document concerning the handling of Royal Wills. The AGO refused the request under section 37(1)(a) (Communications with Her Majesty etc.) and section 41 (Information provided in confidence). The Commissioner has considered the complaint and has found that section 37(1)(a) is engaged and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. The Commissioner has not considered whether the section 41 exemption would apply. The Commissioner also found that in its handling of the complainant’s request the public authority breached sections 17(1) and 17(3) of the Act (refusal of a request) but requires no steps to be taken. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2011/0002 dismissed.