Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Date 11 September 2018
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) EIR 12.4.e: Upheld, FOI 37: Not upheld
The complainant submitted a request to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for information about meetings between the Secretary of State and Prince of Wales. BEIS confirmed that one meeting had taken place during the time period of the request and provided the complainant with some briefing material related to this meeting. However, it sought to withhold further briefing material on the basis of either section 37(1)(aa) (communications with or relating to the heir to the Throne) of FOIA or regulation 12(4)(e) (internal communications) of the EIR. The Commissioner has concluded that section 37(1)(aa) has been applied correctly. However, she has also concluded that although some of the withheld information falls within the scope of the exception provided by regulation 12(4)(e) the public interest favours disclosing this information.