Edward Williams v Information Commissioner & Anor

Edward Williams v Information Commissioner & Anor

The FCDO was entitled to withhold the requested information under FOIA sections 23(1) and 24(1) in the alternative; the Commissioner's decision was correct and entailed no error of law or discretion.

Parties
Appellant: Edward Williams; First Respondent: Information Commissioner; Second Respondent: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
11 October 2024
Procedural Posture
FOIA Appeal / Final Hearing and Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Freedom of Information, National Security Exemptions, Appeals Procedure
Information Law Administrative Law Freedom of Information National Security Exemptions Appeals Procedure

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Edward Williams

Appellant

Information Commissioner

First Respondent

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Second Respondent

Procedural Posture

FOIA Appeal / Final Hearing and Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the FCDO was entitled to withhold information under FOIA sections 23(1) and 24(1)
  2. 2 Whether the Information Commissioner's decision was correct in law

Ratio Decidendi

The FCDO was entitled to withhold the requested information under FOIA sections 23(1) and 24(1) in the alternative; the Commissioner's decision was correct and entailed no error of law or discretion.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed.
  • Closed documents received during the hearing will not be disclosed except to the Information Commissioner and the FCDO.