Cabinet Office

The complainant has requested 13 March and 17 March 2003 Cabinet minutes. The Cabinet Office cited section 22 (information intended for future publication) as its basis for refusal and upheld this at internal review. During the Commissioner’s investigation, the Cabinet Office introduced reliance on section 35 (ministerial communications) for that information in the minutes which did not cover the subject of Iraq. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office is entitled to rely on section 22(1) as its basis for withholding the 13 March and 17 March 2003 minutes where they relate to the subject of Iraq. The Cabinet Office is entitled to rely on section 35(1)(b) as its basis for withholding the remainder of the requested information. No steps are required. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2016/0127 withdrawn.