Ministry of Justice
- Date 12 June 2017
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 27: Not upheld
The complainant requested an electronic copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (‘MoU’) between the Ministry of Justice (the ‘MOJ’) and the Saudi MOJ. The MOJ confirmed that it held the requested information but refused to provide it citing sections 27(1) and 27(2), (international relations), of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information is exempt on the basis of section 27(1)(a) of FOIA, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. As she has found section 27(1) to be engaged, the Commissioner did not proceed to consider the MOJ’s application of section 27(2) to the same information. However, by failing to issue its refusal notice within 20 working days, the MOJ has breached section 17 of the FOIA. The Commissioner does not require the MOJ to take any steps as a result of this notice.