Cabinet Office

The complainant has requested honours related information regarding Sir Archibald David Stirling and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair “Paddy” Mayne – two founding members of the SAS. The Cabinet Office (“CO”) denied holding information relating to Lieutenant Colonel Mayne. It said that any other information it held within the scope of the request was exempt under section 37(1)(b) (honours) and section 23 (security bodies) or section 24 (national security) in the alternative. CO upheld this position after internal review. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the complainant withdrew that part of his complaint which related to section 23 or section 24. The Commissioner’s decision is that CO does not hold any information relating to Lieutenant Colonel Mayne. The other information that it holds within the scope of the request is exempt under section 37(1)(b). However, CO failed to comply with its obligations under section 1, section 10 and section 17 in failing to substantively respond within the time allowed by those provisions. The Commissioner does not require further steps.