Department of Health and Social Care

The complainant has requested information on financial due diligence checks made by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) into a named PPE supplier. The request also asked for correspondence between the DHSC and a senior figure a the supplier on the procurement. The DHSC aggregated this request with three earlier requests and refused them on the basis complying would exceed the cost limit under section 12 of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DHSC was entitled to aggregate the requests and that the DHSC has demonstrated that it would exceed the cost limit to confirm what information is held under section 12(2) of the FOIA. The DHSC has also complied with its duty under section 16 of the FOIA by providing advice and assistance.