Cabinet Office

The complainant has requested information relating to the Second Permanent Secretary’s investigations into staff gatherings at No 10. Downing Street on four separate dates. The Cabinet Office initially stated that was exempting information it held within scope of the request with reliance on section 31(1)(law enforcement), section 40(2)(personal information) and section 41(1)(information provided in confidence) of FOIA. At internal review, the Cabinet Office amended its position and sought to rely on section 12(1) to refuse the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office is entitled to rely on section 12(1) to refuse the request. The Commissioner does not require any steps.