Department of Health and Social Care
- Date 17 February 2025
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 31(1): Not upheld, FOI 43(2): Not upheld
The complainant has requested from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) information related to care providers that had had their sponsorship licences revoked or suspended by the Home Office. The DHSC refused to provide this information citing section 21 of FOIA (information accessible to the applicant by other means), section 31(1) (law enforcement), section 40(2) (personal information) and section 43(2) (commercial interests). It later withdrew section 21 and provided some information without identifying sponsors making section 40(2) no longer relevant. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DHSC has correctly cited sections 31(1) and 43(2) of FOIA and that the public interest favours non-disclosure. The Commissioner does not require further steps.