Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

The complainant has requested information on email and instant messenger correspondence sent or received by ministers and their private offices concerning the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (“ARIA”) and its exclusion from the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that BEIS is entitled to rely on FOIA section 35(1)(a) – formulation or development of government policy, to withhold the requested information. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.