Department for Transport

The complainant has requested information about the closure of the UK’s borders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department for Transport (DfT) has refused to comply with the request as it says the cost of doing so would exceed the appropriate limit under section 12(1) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: DfT is entitled to rely on section 12(1) of the FOIA to refuse to comply with the complainant’s request as the cost of doing so would exceed the appropriate limit. DfT provided adequate advice and assistance and there was no breach of section 16(1) in DfT’s handling of the request. The Commissioner does not require DfT to take any remedial steps.