Information Commissioner

The complainant has requested information relating to the cost of seconded individuals. The above public authority disclosed the total figure, but not individual costs. It relied on section 43 (commercial interests) and section 40(2) of FOIA (third party personal data) to withhold this information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority has correctly applied section 40(2) of FOIA to some, but not all, of the requested information. Of the information that does not engage section 40(2), the Commissioner accepts that section 43 of FOIA is engaged, but considers that the balance of the public interest favours disclosure. The public authority also breached sections 10 and 17 of FOIA in responding to the request. The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation: Disclose, to the complainant, the information specified in the confidential annex to this decision notice.
Keywords: pay bands, salaries, secondment costs