Department for Work and Pensions

The complainant has requested risk assessments related to unauthorised access of Universal Credit records. The above public authority disclosed a small amount of information, but relied on sections 31 (law enforcement) and 24 (national security) of FOIA to withhold the remainder. The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority has correctly engaged section 31 of FOIA and that the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. The public authority breached section 10 of FOIA as it disclosed some information outside of the 20 working day timeframe. The Commissioner does not require further steps.
Keywords: mosaic effect