Department for Business & Trade (DBT)
- Date 26 February 2026
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) EIR 12(4)(d): Not upheld, EIR 12(4)(e): Not upheld, EIR 12(5)(b): Not upheld, EIR 12(5)(e): Upheld, EIR 12(5)(f): Not upheld, EIR 14: Upheld, FOI 12: Not upheld, FOI 17: Upheld, EIR 12(9): Not upheld
The complainant has requested form the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) under EIR all information related to a complaint made against Drax Group Plc and considered by UK National Contact Point (UK NCP). DBT disclosed some information but withheld the remainder under section 12 of FOIA and regulations 12(4)(d), 12(4)(e), 12(5)(b), 12(5)(e) and 12(5)(f) of the EIR.
The Commissioner’s decision is that DBT was correct to withhold the remainder of the information under section 12 of FOIA and exceptions 12(4)(d), 12(4)(e), 12(5)(b) and 12(5)(f) of the EIR. However, he found that DBT was not entitled to rely on regulation 12(5)(e) and also breached regulation 5(2) by exceeding the time for a response, regulation 14 by exceeding the time to provide a refusal notice and section 17 for the same reason.
The Commissioner does not require DBT to take further steps in relation to this complaint.