Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

The complainant has requested minutes of the Public Service Broadcasting Advisory Panel to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (‘the DCMS’). The DCMS refused the request on the basis that section 35(1)(a) of FOIA applied (formulation of government policy). The Commissioner’s decision is that the DCMS was correct to apply section 35(1)(a) of FOIA in order to withhold the information. The Commissioner does not require the DCMS to take any steps.