Pensions Ombudsman
- Date 10 January 2025
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 10: Upheld, FOI 17: Upheld, FOI 31(1)(g): Not upheld, FOI 36(2)(c): Partly upheld
The complainant has requested information relating to a cyber attack. The Pensions Ombudsman (“the public authority”) disclosed some information but withheld other information, citing section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs), section 31 (law enforcement) and section 21 (information reasonably accessible to applicant via other means). The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority was correct to withhold the information that it did under section 36 and section 31. It wasn’t correct to withhold information under section 21 but this information is exempt under section 40(1) (personal information). The Commissioner has recorded procedural breaches of section 10 (time for compliance with the request) and section 17 (refusal notice).The Commissioner does not require further steps.