Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The complainant has requested the minutes of a meeting that took place on 20 June 2018 between Michael Gove and the Institute of Economic Affairs (“IEA”) to discuss UK trade and industry. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (“Defra”) refused to provide the information citing sections 35(1)(a), 27(1)(d), 29(1)(a), and section 40(2). The Commissioner’s decision is that Defra is entitled to withhold the requested information in reliance on section 35(1)(a). The Commissioner does not require Defra to take any further steps.