Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Date 1 December 2022
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) EIR 12.4.d: Not upheld, EIR 12.5.a: Not upheld, EIR 13: Not upheld
The complainant has requested information relating to a mine in Armenia. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (‘FCDO’) released some information in scope of the request but cited regulations 12(4)(d), 12(5)(a), 12(5)(e), 12(3) and 13 of the EIR to withhold the remaining information within scope.
The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information engages regulations 12(4)(d), 12(5)(a) of the EIR and the public interest favours maintaining the exceptions. The Commissioner also considers regulation 13 of the EIR is engaged.
However, the FCDO failed to provide a response to the request for information within the designated time frame and therefore breached regulation 5 as well as regulation 11(4) of the EIR by failing to provide its internal review response within the required 40 working days.
No steps are required as a result of this decision notice.