Department for Work and Pensions

The complainant has requested the information provided to the Universal Credit Programme Board for set meeting dates. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) withheld the information and cited section 22 ‘future publication’ and section 40(2) ‘personal data’ as its basis for doing so. The Commissioner’s decision is that DWP is not entitled to rely on section 22 to withhold the information. The information withheld under section 40(2) is not in dispute. The Commissioner requires the public authority disclose the information withheld under section 22 of the Act. The public authority must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2019/0386 appeal allowed in part.