Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The complainant has requested information held by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy concerning the Star Chamber sessions referenced in the Government’s Regulatory Futures Review. The Department originally withheld all the information held within scope of the complainant’s request under Section 35(1)(a)(formulation or development of government policy). During the Commissioner’s investigation the Department provided the complainant with some of the information requested, with redactions for information exempt under Section 35(1)(a) and Sections 29(1)(a)(economic interests of the United Kingdom or of any part of the United Kingdom) 35(1)(b)(Ministerial communications) and 40(2)(third party personal data), which the Department applied latterly to some of the information held. The Commissioner has found that all the residual withheld information is exempt from disclosure under Section 35(1)(a) and requires no steps to be taken as a result of this notice. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2018/0136 dismissed.