Department for Work and Pensions
- Date 10 January 2023
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 10: Upheld, FOI 35: Not upheld, FOI 36: Not upheld
The complainant has requested the first draft of an external research report commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP withheld the information on the basis of sections 36(2)(b)(i), 36(2)(b)(ii) and 36(2)(c). The Commissioner’s decision is that section 36 is not engaged but section 35(1)(a) is engaged and the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner also finds that DWP has breached sections 10 and 17 by not providing its substantive response within the statutory timeframe. The Commissioner does not require DWP to take any remedial steps.