The complainant submitted a request to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeking information about the number of times Ministers had consulted or approved intelligence sharing in particular circumstances. The MOD explained that it held some information falling within the scope of the request but it considered this to be exempt from disclosure on the basis of sections 24(1) (national security), 26(1)(b) (defence) and 27(1)(a) (international relations). It also refused to confirm or deny whether it held any further information falling within the scope of the request on the basis of section 23(5) (security bodies) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the MOD is entitled to rely on section 27(1)(a) to withhold the information and that in all of the circumstances of the request the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. She has also concluded that the MOD is entitled to refuse to confirm or deny whether it holds any further information falling within the scope of the request on the basis of section 23(5) of FOIA.
FOI 26: Complaint not upheld FOI 23: Complaint not upheld
Citations:
[2020] UKICO FS50893604
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 19 October 2022; Ref: scu.653773