Royal Academy of Music
- Date 19 June 2024
- Sector Education
- Decision(s) FOI 1(1)(a): Upheld, FOI 10(1): Upheld, FOI 17: Upheld, FOI 41: Partly upheld
The complainant has requested information relating to the contents of a formal Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) consultation with the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) within certain date parameters. RAM refused to provide this information citing section 41 of FOIA – information provided in confidence. The Commissioner’s decision is that RAM has cited section 41 of FOIA appropriately to the requested information, apart from some limited information where section 41 is not engaged. However, RAM breached sections 1(1)(a) and 10(1) of FOIA by not confirming whether it held the requested information until the internal review and breached section 17(1)(b) of FOIA by citing an exemption for the first time at the review stage. The Commissioner requires RAM to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
• Disclose the single line response from RAM at part three, question four (2020-2021).
• Disclose each response provided by RAM under part two, question one of the surveys, excluding contact details.