Welsh Government

The complainant asked for emails, letters and minutes of meetings between the Welsh Government’s Minister for Health and Social Services or her officials and specified consultants over a specified time period. The Welsh Government disclosed some information but took seven months to provide a substantive response. It refused to disclose some relevant information on the basis that section 35(1)(a) was engaged and that the public interest favoured maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner agreed that the exemption was engaged but found that the public interest favoured disclosure. The Commissioner has noted his concerns at the time taken to provide the complainant with a substantive response.