Queen Mary University of London

The complainant has requested the minutes of meetings of the Trial Steering Committee and Trial Management Group of the PACE trial. The trial was concerned with treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome. The Queen Mary University of London (the university) withheld the information under section 36 – prejudice to the conduct of public affairs. The Commissioner’s decision is that university is entitled to rely on the exemptions provided by section 36 in respect of information identifying individuals and the contribution of the a body representing patients. Section 36 cannot be relied on in respect of the remaining information. However some of that remaining information is exempt by virtue of section 40(2) – personal information. A short confidential annexe has been produced to identify the information which may be withheld. This will be provided exclusively to the university. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the minutes apart from that information which is identified in the confidential annex.