Northern Ireland Co-operation Overseas

The complainant has requested information relating to a single-language policy. The complainant has requested information on projects undertaken in Bahrain by Northern Ireland Co-Operation Overseas (NI-CO). NI-CO initially provided some information and cited the exemptions at sections 27(1)(a), 27(1)(c) and 43(2) of the FOIA in respect of the remainder. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation it transpired that NI-CO did not in fact hold the requested information within the meaning of section 3(2) of the FOIA. The information was in fact held on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The Commissioner’s decision is that NI-CO holds the requested information on behalf of the FCO. Accordingly NI-CO cannot be required to take remedial steps.