Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The complainant has requested information concerning a meeting which took place on 13 June 2016 between his MP and the then Minister of State for Skills, Nick Boles MP and civil servants. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy originally withheld the requested information under section 36(2)(b)(ii) of the FOIA but latterly, during the Commissioner’s investigation, applied section 14(1) to refuse the request on the grounds that it was vexatious.  The Commissioner has decided that Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is entitled to rely on section 14(1) to refuse the request. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2018/0061 allowed.