Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO (previously FCO)

The complainant requested correspondence between the then Secretary of State, Lord Cameron, and the Permanent Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regarding potential conflicts of interest. The FCDO refused to confirm or deny that it held information in scope of the request on the basis of sections 40(5B) (third party personal data) and 41(2) (information provided in confidence) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the FCDO was not entitled to refuse to confirm or deny that it held the requested information. The Commissioner requires the FCDO to confirm or deny whether the requested information is held.