Rural Payments Agency

The complainant has requested from the Rural Payments Agency various information in connection with the number of eligible hectares of New Forest common land awarded to each applicant for the Single Payment Scheme years of 2013 and 2014. The Rural Payments Agency disclosed the information requested in parts 1 and 2 of the request for the year 2013 with personal data redacted but claimed not to hold the information requested in relation to part 3 of the request, the number and type of livestock by applying Regulation 12(4)(a) of the EIR. With regard to the same information for 2014 the Rural Payments Agency applied Regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR on the basis that it would be manifestly unreasonable to provide it in view of the significant cost and disproportionate diversion of resources involved. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Rural Payments Agency has correctly applied Regulation 13 of the EIR in respect of the personal data in the 2013 information at parts 1 and 2 of the request. However, he is not satisfied that the Rural Payments Agency has provided sufficient arguments that Regulation 12(4)(b) is engaged in respect of parts 1 and 2 of the request for the 2014 figures. The Commissioner also finds that the Rural Payments Agency does hold information in respect of the number and type of livestock for both 2013 and 2014. The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. Disclose the requested information at part 3 of the request which it holds in respect of the number and type of livestock for 2013 and 2014. In relation to the information request at parts 1 and 2 of the request for 2014, issue a fresh response which doesn’t rely on regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR.