Department of Health (NI)

The complainant requested information from the Department of Health Northern Ireland (the ‘DoH’) about the algorithm used to determine the Reproduction or R Number for coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) in Northern Ireland. The DoH stated that it did not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the DoH does not hold the requested information. The Commissioner is also satisfied that the requested information was not held on behalf of the DoH by the Northern Ireland COVID-19 Modelling Group (‘Modelling Group’) under section 3(2) of FOIA. However, the DoH failed to inform the complainant, within 20 working days, that it did not hold the requested information and therefore failed to comply with section 10(1) of FOIA. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken.