Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

The complainant submitted a request to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) seeking copies of the minutes, agendas and briefing materials for meetings of the Public Service Broadcasting Advisory Panel. DCMS confirmed that it held the requested information but considered it to be exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 35(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 35(1)(a) and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest favours withholding the information.