Home Office

The complainant requested copies of all correspondence sent and received by the office of Priti Patel relating to the decision whether or not to include a public interest defence in the overhaul of the Official Secrets Act. The Home Office refused to provide the information it held in scope of the request citing section 35(1)(a) of FOIA - the exemption for the formulation or development of government policy. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to rely on section 35(1)(a) to refuse the request. The Commissioner requires no steps as a result of this notice.