Northern Ireland Office
- Date 19 December 2022
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 36(2)(b)(i): Not upheld, FOI 36(2)(c): Not upheld, FOI 40(2): Not upheld
The complainant has requested from the Northern Ireland Office (‘NIO’) emails found within the archived email inbox of the former Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, which contain references to Randox Laboratories Ltd or Lynn's Country Foods. The NIO initially refused to respond, citing the cost limit exemption under section 12 of FOIA. After the ICO’s intervention, NIO issued a fresh response and disclosed information but withheld some information citing sections 36(2)(b)(i), 36(2)(c) (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) and 40(2) (personal data) of FOIA.The Commissioner’s decision is that NIO was entitled to rely on sections 36(2)(b)(i), 36(2)(c) and 40(2) to withhold this information. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken as a result of this decision.