HM Treasury
- Date 25 April 2024
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 10: Upheld, FOI 35(1)(a): Not upheld, FOI 35(1)(b): Not upheld, FOI 35(1)(d): Not upheld
The complainant requested correspondence held by the Private Office and the Chancellor regarding Infected Blood Compensation for the period of 1 April 2022-20 August 2022.
HM Treasury (HMT) disclosed a small amount of information but withheld the majority of the requested information. HMT redacted some of the information under sections 35(1)(a) formulation or development of government policy, 35(1)(b) Ministerial communications, 35(1)(d) the operation of any ministerial office and 40(2) personal information.
The complainant has not challenged the applications of section 40(2) therefore it has not been addressed in this investigation.
The Commissioner’s decision is that HMT is entitled to rely on sections 35(1)(a), 35(1)(b), 35(1)(d) formulation or development of government policy.
The Commissioner has also considered HMT’s delay in providing a response and has found that HMT breached section 10(1) of FOIA ) in respect of sections 1(1)(a) and 1(1)(b) of FOIA, as well as section 17(3) in respect of the substantive refusal notice.
The Commissioner does not require any further steps as a result of this decision notice.