Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The complainant requested copies of inspection reports in relation to two circuses. The reports concerned the welfare practices of the circuses regarding animals in their care. Defra refused the request under sections 38 (health and safety) and 41 (information provided in confidence) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Defra has correctly applied section 41 to the report concerning Peter Jolly’s Circus but that it incorrectly applied sections 38 and 41 to the two reports concerning the Great British Circus.