Cabinet Office

The complainant requested information about the undertaking given by the then leader of the opposition concerning Lord Ashcroft’s nomination for a peerage. The public authority refused the request, citing the exemptions provided by the following sections of the Act: 37(1)(b) (information relating to the conferring by the Crown of any honour or dignity), 40(2) (personal information) and 41(1) (information provided in confidence). In relation to some of the information, the Commissioner finds that section 37(1)(b) was applied correctly. However, in relation to the remainder of the information, the conclusion of the Commissioner is that section 37(1)(b) is engaged, but that this information should be disclosed in the public interest, and that the exemptions provided by sections 40(2) and 41(1) are not engaged. The public authority is required to disclose this information. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2011/0176 has been disposed of by way of a consent order.