Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The complainant has requested a copy of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice's ministerial diaries within a particular time period. Defra refused to comply with the request, citing section 14(1) (vexatious requests), based on the grossly oppressive burden that complying with the request would impose. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Defra is entitled to rely upon section 14(1) to refuse to comply with the request. The Commissioner does not require Defra to take any further steps.