Home Office
- Date 5 December 2023
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 10: Upheld, FOI 12(1): Not upheld, FOI 16: Not upheld
The complainant made two requests for information regarding the Home Office’s Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (“AASCs”).
The Home Office relied on section 12 (cost limit) of FOIA to refuse both requests as the aggregated cost of responding would have exceeded the appropriate limit.
The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to consider the combined cost of responding to both requests and that it has reasonably estimated that combined cost as exceeding the appropriate limit. Consequently, the Home Office was entitled to refuse to comply with the requests in accordance with section 12(1).
The Commissioner finds that the Home Office has complied with its obligations under section 16 of FOIA to offer advice and assistance.
The Commissioner considers that the Home Office has breached section 10(1) of FOIA as it did not confirm that it held information within the statutory time limit. It has also breached section 17(5) of FOIA as it did not provide the complainant with its refusal notice within the statutory time limit.
The Commissioner does not require further steps.