Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Date 2 August 2022
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 27: Not upheld, FOI 35: Not upheld
The complainant submitted a request to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) seeking assessments or similar information in relation to possibility of the UK establishing an asylum processing centre on Ascension Island or St Helena. The FCDO confirmed that it held information falling within the scope of the request but considered it to be exempt from disclosure on the basis of sections 27(1)(a) (international relations) or 35(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy). The Commissioner’s decision is that the FCDO is entitled to withhold the information in the scope of the request on the basis of sections 27(1)(a) and 35(1)(a) of FOIA. First-tier tribunal (General Regulatory chamber) information rights appeal EA/2022/0210 appeal dismissed.