The complainant submitted a request to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for information related to the implementation of the Universal Credit Programme. DWP confirmed that it holds information relevant to the request. It advised the complainant on two occasions that it required further time to consider the public interest test. To date, DWP has failed to provide the complainant with a substantive response. By failing to do so, the Commissioner has concluded that DWP breached section 17(3) of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires DWP to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation: Provide the complainant with a substantive response to their information request. If DWP decides to withhold any information then the complainant should be provided with a refusal notice giving a full explanation as to why the information will not be disclosed, including details of any public interest consideration.
FOI 17: Upheld
Citations:
[2017] UKICO FS50654111
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 01 November 2022; Ref: scu.579755
