Secretary of State for Defence (Ministry of Defence)

The complainant submitted a request to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeking copies of operational directives concerning UK armed forces personnel embedded with other forces. The MOD explained that it had previously provided the complainant with copies of the requested documents with information being redacted on the basis of sections 23(1) (security bodies), 24(1) (national security), 26(1)(b) (defence), 27(1)(a) and (c) (international relations) of FOIA. The MOD explained that its position had not changed in relation to the withheld information and it remained of the view that it was still exempt on the basis of these exemptions. The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt on the basis of sections 23(1), 26(1)(b) and 27(1)(a) and (c) of FOIA.