Department for Transport

The complainant has requested minutes from a round table discussion between the shipping industry and government ministers. The Department for Transport (DfT) provided a list of attendees but withheld the contents of the minutes under section 35(1)(a) – formulation and development of government policy and section 35(1)(d) – operation of a Ministerial private office. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 35(1)(d) is not engaged. Section 35(1)(a) is engaged and for the majority of this information the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. However in respect of a very limited amount of the information the public interest favours disclosure and therefore the DfT cannot rely on section 35(1)(a) to withhold that information. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the information which cannot be withheld under section 35(1)(a).