The complainant has requested certain PREM files (Prime Ministerial correspondence files) relating to the Lockerbie bombing. The Cabinet Office, after some delay, refused to provide this information citing the exemptions at section 23 (security bodies), section 24 (national security), section 27 (international relations) and section 31 (law enforcement) as its basis for doing so. It upheld this at internal review. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office is entitled to rely on section 31 as its basis for withholding the requested information. In failing to provide a timely response, the Cabinet Office contravened its obligation under section 1 and section 10 of the FOIA. No steps are required.
FOI 31: Complaint not upheld FOI 10: Complaint upheld
Citations:
[2019] UKICO fs50784346
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 17 May 2022; Ref: scu.643170
