National Archives

The complainant made a freedom of information request to the National Archives for copies of a closed extract within a Foreign Office file. In response the National Archives disclosed most of the requested information by opening up the closed extract. However, three small passages were redacted under the exemptions in section 27(1) (International relations) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the redacted information was exempt under section 27(1)(a) and 27(1)(d) of FOIA and that the public interest in maintaining each exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken.