Department for Transport

The complainant has requested information concerning Highways England’s name change to “National Highways”. The Department for Transport (“the DfT”) provided a small amount of information, but relied on section 36 of FOIA (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) to withhold the remainder. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DfT has correctly engaged both section 36(2)(b)(i) and section 36(2)(b)(ii) of FOIA but that the balance of the public interest favours disclosure. The Commissioner requires the DfT to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation: disclose, to the complainant, the information it has withheld. The DfT may redact contact details and the names of junior staff.