HM Treasury

The complainant made a freedom of information request to HM Treasury for information related to the recovery of funds from the Barlow Clowes group of companies. The Treasury initially disclosed some of the requested information but for other parts of the request the information was exempt from disclosure or the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit under section 12. The Treasury subsequently said that it was applying section 12(1) to all of the requested information. The Commissioner has investigated the complaint and found that the cost of complying with the complainant’s request would exceed the appropriate limit and that section 12(1) is engaged. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken.