Queen Mary University of London

The complainant has requested emails between a named Professor and Polaris pharmaceutical company within a certain timeframe. Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) refused to provide the information citing section 43(2) of FOIA (commercial interests) and section 22A of FOIA (research information). The Commissioner’s decision is that QMUL cited section 22A of FOIA correctly and that the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. He has also decided that QMUL breached sections 1(1)(a) and 10(1) of FOIA by not confirming if it held the requested information within the time for compliance. QMUL also breached section 17(1) of FOIA by later relying on an exemption it had not included in its refusal notice. The Commissioner does not require further steps.