Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
- Date 10 February 2026
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 10(1): Upheld, FOI 36(2)(b)(ii): Not upheld, FOI 17(1): Upheld
The complainant submitted a request to Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) for specific information concerning the governance and performance of Sport England and England Boxing. DCMS initially provided the complainant with one of the three documents held within scope of his request, with redactions for information exempt under section 40(2)(third party personal data). DCMS withheld the other two documents under section 36(2)(b)(ii) (prejudice to the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation). DCMS maintained their position at internal review.
During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation DCMS disclosed to the complainant a heavily redacted copy of one of the other two documents, the redacted information being withheld under section 36(2)(b)(ii), and a further page of the document previously disclosed with redactions for section 40(2).
The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 36(2)(b)(ii) and that the public interest favours maintaining the exemption.
However, in their handling of the complainant’s request, the Commissioner has found that DCMS breached section 17(1) and section 10(1) of FOIA.
The Commissioner does not require further steps.