Department for Transport

The complainant, on behalf of Greenpeace’s ‘Unearthed’ journalism project, has requested from the Department for Transport (DfT) information about any ministerial meetings with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and/or Volkswagen.  DfT released some information (with personal data withheld) and advised that it did not hold any formal minutes of meetings held. DfT confirmed that it is withholding some information under regulation 12(4)(e) of the EIR as it considers that this information can be categorised as internal communications.  It considers the public interest favours maintaining this exception. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: DfT has correctly applied regulation 12(4)(e) to the information it is withholding under this exception and the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exception. The Commissioner does not require DfT to take any remedial steps.