Cabinet Office
- Date 2 September 2024
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 17(3): Upheld, FOI 36(2)(b)(i): Not upheld, FOI 36(2)(b)(ii): Not upheld, FOI 36(2)(c): Not upheld
The complainant has requested from the Cabinet Office information relating to a letter to Boris Johnson about access to legal funding for the participation in the covid enquiry. The Cabinet Office refused the request citing sections 36(2)(b)(i), 36(2)(b)(ii), 36(2)(C) and sections 41(1), 42, 43, and 43(2) of FOIA.
The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office was entitled to rely on sections 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) to refuse the request.
However, by failing to respond to the request within 20 working days, the Cabinet Office breached sections 1, 10 and 17 of FOIA.
The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken as a result of this decision.