Cabinet Office
- Date 15 May 2024
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 17: Upheld, FOI 35(1)(b): Upheld
The complainant has requested from the Cabinet Office a copy of the official document issued to ban Tik-Tok application on government electronic devices.
The Cabinet Office refused to provide the requested information citing section
35(1)(b)(Ministerial communications) of FOIA.
The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt under section 35(1)(b) but the public interest balance favours disclosure. He has also found the Cabinet Office in breach of section 17(1).
The Commissioner requires the Cabinet Office to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
• Disclose to the complaint the letter from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Cabinet members.
The public authority must take these steps within 30 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.