North East Ambulance Service
- Date 16 February 2023
- Sector Health
- Decision(s) FOI 1: Upheld, FOI 12(1): Not upheld
The complainant requested information held by North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) relating to costs involved in instructing solicitors with specific reference to employment disputes.
Whilst NEAS provided some information, it advised that it was unable to provide the breakdown requested, citing section 12(1) - cost limits, of FOIA.
It is the Commissioner’s decision that NEAS has correctly applied section 12(1) to the original request (Request one); however, it failed to identify that a new request (Request two) was included within the complainant’s internal review request. As a result the Commissioner has found a breach of section 1 of FOIA.
The Commissioner requires NEAS to take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation.
Consider and provide a substantive response to Request two (set out in paragraph eight of this decision notice) in accordance with its obligations under FOIA.