Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- Date 13 December 2022
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 35: Not upheld, FOI 40: Partly upheld, FOI 41: Not upheld, FOI 41: Partly upheld
The complainant requested information about a Homes England pay review. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (the DLUHC) withheld the information requested under section 35(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of the FOIA. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the DLUHC disclosed some of the withheld information, but maintained that the remaining information was exempt under sections 35, 40(2) (personal information) and 41 (information provided in confidence). The Commissioner’s decision is that the DLUHC correctly applied sections 35 and 41 to the withheld information. The Commissioner has also determined that with the exception of one redaction, the DLUHC has correctly applied section 40(2) to the request. The Commissioner requires DLUHC to disclose the information withheld under section 40(2) on page 6 of the Homes England new Pay Business Case.