Home Office

The complainant requested copies of communications relating to a visit by the Home Secretary to Rwanda from the Home Office. The Home Office disclosed some information but refused to disclose the remainder citing section 36(2)(b)(i) (Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) of FOIA.
Where cited, the Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to rely on section 36(2)(b)(i) of FOIA to withhold the requested information. However, in failing to respond to the complainant’s further request for a copy of the qualified person’s opinion, the Home Office has breached sections 1 and 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the Home Office to comply with the request for a copy of the qualified person’s opinion or issue a valid refusal notice as set out in section 17 of FOIA.