Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office)

The complainant requested information from the Home Office about VFS Global. The Home Office provided some information, but withheld the majority under section 43(2) of FOIA – prejudice to commercial interests. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption has been applied correctly to the requested reporting and performance level data, and that the balance of the public interest favours the exemption being maintained. However, he has decided that the exemption is not engaged with regard to some of the requested information; specifically, a list of Visa Application Centre subcontractors. The Commissioner requires the Home Office to disclose the list of Visa Application Centre subcontractors to the complainant.