Financial Conduct Authority

The complainant has requested information associated with a BBC ‘Panorama’ programme about the Blackmore Bonds collapse. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has disclosed some of the information and withheld the remainder under sections 31, 36, 40, 42, 43 and 44 of FOIA. These exemptions concern law enforcement, effective conduct of public affairs, personal data, legal privilege, commercial interests and prohibitions on disclosure respectively. As a result of the Commissioner’s investigation, FCA identified further information it considered could be disclosed but it is continuing to withhold the remainder.The Commissioner’s decision is that FCA is entitled to rely on section 36(2)(b)(ii) to withhold some of the information within scope of the complainant’s request. FCA hasn’t complied with section 1(1) and section 10(1) of FOIA as it hasn’t communicated all the non-exempt information it holds within the required timescale. The Commissioner requires FCA to take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation: If FCA hasn’t already done so, disclose the further information that it has identified can be disclosed which is detailed in its submission to the Commissioner, with any personal data redacted appropriately.