The English Heritage Trust

The complainant asked for information about recent nominations for ‘blue plaques’ received by English Heritage. English Heritage disclosed some information, but it refused to disclose the list of nominations received, citing sections 36(2)(b)(ii) and 36(2)(c) (Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) of FOIA. It said that the withheld information would be published at a future date, when a final decision on each blue plaque nomination had been made. The Commissioner’s decision is that English Heritage was entitled to rely on sections 36(2)(b)(ii) and 36(2)(c) of FOIA to refuse to disclose the information. However, it breached sections 1 (General right of access) and 10 (Time for compliance) of FOIA, by failing to respond to the request within the statutory time for compliance.