Cabinet Office

The complainant requested the job titles of staff members working in Downing Street who have been fined by the Metropolitan Police Service for breaking the lockdown regulations. The Cabinet Office denied holding the requested information for the purposes of FOIA (section 3(2)(a) (public authorities) of FOIA). The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the Cabinet Office holds information within the scope of the request for the purposes of FOIA by virtue of section 3(2)(a) of FOIA. The Commissioner requires the Cabinet Office to take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation: provide the information, unless it can properly rely on any exemptions in FOIA to withhold all or some of the same. If relying on any exemptions to withhold all or some of the information, issue a refusal notice which complies with section 17 of FOIA. Information Tribunal FT/EA/2024/0060 under appeal.