Care Quality Commission

The complainant requested copies of specific audit review reports. The Care Quality Commission (the CQC) withheld the information under sections 31 (law enforcement) and 40(2) (personal data) of the FOIA. In their internal review, the complainant refined their request to one specific audit report. The CQC maintained that the one report was exempt under sections 31 and 40(2). During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the CQC also relied on sections 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) to withhold the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the CQC correctly applied section 31 to the withheld information. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken.