Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The complainant requested a breakdown of information about refused student visa applications under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) which was set up as part of the Government’s non-proliferation strategy. This was a narrowed version of an earlier request which had been complied with in part. It was refused under section 24 (Safeguarding National Security) of the Act. No internal review was offered. The Commissioner has concluded that the public authority was entitled to rely on section 24 as its basis for refusing to provide this information. No steps are required. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2011/0167 dismissed.