The complainant requested market research relating to the proposed Peace-building and Conflict Resolution Centre (PbCRC) at the Maze Prison/Long Kesh (MLK) site. The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) refused the request in reliance on the exemption at section 35(1)(a) of the FOIA. OFMDFM subsequently disclosed some information but withheld the remainder of the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption at section 35(1)(a) is engaged, but the public interest in maintaining the exemption does not outweigh the public interest in disclosing the withheld information. The Commissioner requires the public authority disclose the Visitor Assessment, the Visitor Assessment Addendum, and the Marketing Strategy in full; and to disclose the information contained in the identified sections of the Economic Appraisal.
Section of Act/EIR and Finding: FOI 35 – Complaint Upheld
Citations:
[2014] UKICO FS50494921
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.527634