Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office)

The complainant has requested a breakdown of monthly payments to a particular contractor over a 12-month period, relating to transport costs for asylum seekers. The Home Office refused the request, citing section 43(2) (Commercial interests) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to rely on section 43(2) of FOIA to refuse the request. However, he found a breach of section 17(1) in respect of its late response to the request.