Cabinet Office
- Date 14 November 2022
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 24: Not upheld
The complainant submitted a request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) seeking risk assessments regarding Covid-19 prepared in respect of the 2021 G7 Summit in Cornwall. MHCLG transferred the request to the Cabinet Office as it, rather than MHCLG, held information falling within the scope of the request. The Cabinet Office refused to provide this information on the basis of the exemptions contained at section 24(1) (national security) and sections 36(2)(b)(i), (2)(b)(ii) and (2)(c) (effective conduct of public affairs) of FOIA.
The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 24(1) of FOIA and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest favours maintaining the exemption.