The Northern Ireland Office
- Date 6 February 2026
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 42(1): Not upheld
The complainant submitted a request to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) seeking legal advice on a Private Members’ Bill whose purposes was to modify the effect on domestic law of arrangements relating to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. The NIO withheld such advice on the basis of sections 35(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) and 42(1) (legal professional privilege) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 42(1) and the public interest favours maintaining the exemption.