Channel 4

The complainant has requested ‘documentary substantiation of a statement by Channel 4 that the £731,000 paid to Andy Duncan on his resignation was a contractual requirement that could not be avoided’. The public authority (‘Channel 4’) originally confirmed that they held the information but that it considered it exempt. It explained that section 40(2) [third party personal data] was the key exemption and that it also believed that sections 41 [confidentiality] and 43 [commercial prejudice] would be likely to apply to. It confirmed its position in its internal review. The Information Commissioner (‘the Commissioner’) has considered the information and finds that section 40(2) was applied appropriately by Channel 4. He therefore requires no remedial steps to be taken. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2011/0270 withdrawn.