Department for Work and Pensions

The complainant asked the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the names of organisations that provide work placements under the Mandatory Work Activity (MWA) programme. The Commissioner’s decision is that by withholding the information under sections 43(2) and 36(2)(c) the DWP did not deal with the request for information in accordance with the Act. He has concluded that s43(2) was not engaged and that although s36(2)(c) was engaged, the public interest favoured disclosure of the withheld information. By failing to state or explain in its refusal notice that s36(2)(c) was applicable to the requested information the DWP breached s17(1)(b) and (c) of the Act. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2012/0207 dismissed. Information Tribunal appeal GIA/2560/2013 dismissed.