Department For Education (DFE)

The complainant requested the costs incurred to date in the planning and execution of an alternative student finance (ASF) system, along with the projected costs to the taxpayer, including projected costs arising from defaulted and unpaid student loans. The Department for Education (DfE) disclosed the costs incurred to date but withheld the projected cost information under section 35(1)(a) of FOIA (formulation or development of government policy).The Commissioner’s decision is that DfE was entitled to withhold the information under section 35(1)(a) of FOIA. The Commissioner does not require further steps.