Department for International Trade

The complainant has requested information about the methodology used for evaluating alleged breaches of international humanitarian law. This was with respect to incidents allegedly caused by fixed wing aircraft that had been sold to or transferred to Saudi Arabia. The Department for International Trade (“DIT”) provided some information but refused to provide other information it held within the scope of the requests citing sections 24 (national security), 26 (defence), 27 (international relations) and 40 (personal data) as its basis for doing so. It also refused to confirm or deny whether it held other information and cited section 23 (security bodies) as its basis for doing so. It withdrew reliance on section 40 at internal review but otherwise upheld this position. The Commissioner’s decision is that DIT is entitled to rely on the exemption at section 27 as its basis for withholding the requested information. No steps are required.