Department for Work and Pensions

The complainant has requested information on the easements the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Commissioner’s decision is that DWP is not entitled to rely on section 14(1), vexatious requests, to refuse to comply with the request. The Commissioner requires DWP to provide a fresh response to the request that does not rely on section 14(1) of FOIA. 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.