The complainant made a request to the BBC for schemas and associated documentation for databases used by TV Licensing to send letters to unlicensed addresses. The BBC refused to disclose the information and applied section 31(1) (a) (b) (d) and (g) of the Act. It also stated that the information would be exempt under section 43(2) of the Act. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the BBC applied section 12(1) of the Act and argued that complying with the request would require it to exceed the ‘appropriate limit’. The Commissioner’s decision is that the BBC is entitled to refuse to comply with the request for schema or schemas under section 12(1) of the Act. The Commissioner also finds that the BBC should offer the complainant advice and assistance under section 16 of the Act as to how his request may be narrowed. The Commissioner also finds that the BBC breached sections 1(1)(a), 10(1) and section 17(5) of the Act in its handling of the request. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2010/0141 has been disposed of by way of a consent order.
Section of Act/EIR and Finding: FOI 10 – Complaint Upheld, FOI 12 – Complaint Not upheld, FOI 16 – Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 – Complaint Upheld
Citations:
[2010] UKICO FS50218726
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 13 May 2022; Ref: scu.531470
