Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The complainant requested all the documentation held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (‘the FCO’) which was referred to in its communications with the ICO during the Commissioner’s investigation of the case referenced FS50302176. The complainant clarified his request to include ‘all records’ requested in the case referenced FS50302176. The FCO refused to provide the information it held citing the exemptions contained at the following sections of the Act: 41, 40(2) and 40(3). The Commissioner has concluded that the information falling within the scope of the request is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 41(1). However, the FCO breached sections 10(1) and 17(1) by failing to respond within twenty working days.