Daniel Edwards v The Information Commissioner

Daniel Edwards v The Information Commissioner

The Tribunal found that section 35(1)(a) FOIA was engaged as the requested information related to the formulation or development of government policy and that the policy was live at the time of the request. The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure, particularly due to the timing and sensitivity of the information.

Parties
Appellant: Daniel Edwards; Respondent: The Information Commissioner
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
07 January 2024
Procedural Posture
Information Rights Appeal / Appeal Determination
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Section 35(1)(a) FOIA Exemption, Public Interest Test, Disclosure of Government Policy Information

Case Brief

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Parties

Daniel Edwards

Appellant

The Information Commissioner

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Information Rights Appeal / Appeal Determination

  1. 1 Whether section 35(1)(a) FOIA exemption applies to the requested information
  2. 2 Whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure
  3. 3 Whether the policy in question was 'live' at the time of the request

Ratio Decidendi

The Tribunal found that section 35(1)(a) FOIA was engaged as the requested information related to the formulation or development of government policy and that the policy was live at the time of the request. The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure, particularly due to the timing and sensitivity of the information.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed