Cabinet Office

Following its response to a subject access request, the complainant submitted a freedom of information request to the Cabinet Office seeking full copies of any documents, for a three year period, which included his name. The Cabinet Office refused the request on the basis of section 14(1) (vexatious) because of the burden in processing it. The complainant disputed this and also argued that the Cabinet Office should have provided him with advice and assistance to allow him to submit a refined version of this request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office is entitled to refuse to comply with the request on the basis of section 14(1) of FOIA.  The Commissioner has also concluded that the Cabinet Office was not under a section 16 duty to offer advice and assistance in response to this request. Information Tribunal FT/EA/2024/0154 appeal withdrawn.