Department for International Development

The complainant submitted two requests to the Department for International Development (DFID) seeking information about the St Helena airport project. In response to the first request DFID confirmed that it held information but sought to refuse to disclose it on the basis of following regulations of the EIR: 12(5)(a) (international relations), 12(5)(b) (course of justice), 12(5)(e) (commercial confidentiality) and regulation 12(3) (personal data). The Commissioner has concluded that the withheld information is exempt on the basis regulation 12(5)(b) and the public interest favours maintaining the exception. In response to the second request DFID explained that it did not hold any information falling within the scope of this request. On the balance of probabilities the Commissioner is satisfied that DFID does not hold any information falling within the scope of this request. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2018/0184 allowed.