The complainant asked the Intellectual Property Office to provide information relating to a trade mark it had considered. The public authority advised the complainant that some information was already available to him but that the remainder was exempt under the exemption at section 44 (prohibitions on disclosure) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The … Continue reading Intellectual Property Office (Decision Notice) FS50359455: ICO 26 Apr 2011

The complainant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to NHS South East Coast on 4 June 2007, 5 July 2007, 12 July 2007 and again made the same request on 3 September 2007, for legal advice provided by a firm of solicitors to the NHSSEC relating to the disclosure of patient … Continue reading NHS South East Coast (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Jun 2009

The complainant requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’) the workplace email addresses of all of the University’s staff. The University confirmed that it held the information, but believed that it was exempt. It argued that the information was already available on its website and explained that section 21(1) [information reasonable accessible … Continue reading Manchester Metropolitan University (Decision Notice): ICO 26 May 2011

The complainants made 16 requests for information mainly related to financial probity or governance. The Commissioner’s decision is that East Herts District Council has not dealt with the requests for information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 by: incorrectly withholding information under the vexatious exclusion, and, in … Continue reading East Hertfordshire District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Nov 2011

The complainant made a request to Staffordshire Police for policies or procedures followed during the vetting of staff from partner agencies or outside employees. The information requested was partly withheld under the exemption at section 31(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption at section … Continue reading Staffordshire Police (Decision Notice): ICO 27 May 2010

Following the publication of a report by Bexley Council into the use of a purchasing card by a former Leader, the complainant requested information relating to the monitoring of the card. As part of its response, the Council provided copies of a series of emails exchanged between Council employees. However, the Council redacted certain details … Continue reading Bexley London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 30 Jun 2010

The complainant made a request to Norfolk County Council (‘the Council’), which was the most recent in a series of requests, relating to the care provided to an elderly person by an independent care organisation contracted by the Council. The Council applied the exclusion under section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the … Continue reading Norfolk County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 7 Nov 2007

The complainant requested all information held by the public authority in relation to surveillance it carried out on him. In particular, the complainant asked for copies of letters from a third party concerning the matter. The public authority cited several exemptions including section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner is satisfied … Continue reading South Gloucestershire Council (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Jan 2007

The complainant made a request to North Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust for correspondence between the Chief Executive of the PCT and the Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust. The PCT refused to provide this information to the complainant as it stated it was exempt from disclosure under section 31(1)(g) with … Continue reading North Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 7 Apr 2011

The complainant asked Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council (‘the Council’) for information about the course of action it followed after it was notified of a GP’s concerns about injuries sustained by her deceased mother, who was in the care of a third party. The Council interpreted this as a general request to view the deceased’s social … Continue reading Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 27 Nov 2007

On the 1 January 2005 the complainant made a request for information to University College London (‘UCL’). The complainant sought three pieces of information held by UCL relating to Dr Andrew Wakefield’s research into the MMR vaccine, as follows:- ‘Patent Applications’; the ‘Management of MMR Controversy’; and details relating to the custody of records. UCL … Continue reading University College London (Decision Notice): ICO 2 Apr 2008

The complainant asked the Intellectual Property Office to provide information relating to a trade mark it had considered. The public authority advised the complainant that some information was already available to him but that the remainder was exempt under the exemption at section 44 (prohibitions on disclosure) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The … Continue reading Intellectual Property Office (Decision Notice) FS50359525: ICO 26 Apr 2011

The complainant asked the Intellectual Property Office to provide information relating to a trade mark it had considered. The public authority advised the complainant that some information was already available to him but that the remainder was exempt under the exemption at section 44 (prohibitions on disclosure) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 The … Continue reading Intellectual Property Office (Decision Notice) FS50359512: ICO 26 Apr 2011

The complainant asked the Intellectual Property Office to provide information relating to a trade mark it had considered. The public authority advised the complainant that some information was already available to him but that the remainder was exempt under the exemption at section 44 (prohibitions on disclosure) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The … Continue reading Intellectual Property Office (Decision Notice) FS50359467: ICO 26 Apr 2011

The complainant made two requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’) to East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust (the ‘Trust’). The first request was for a copy of internal reports into the circumstances surrounding the death of a patient of the Trust (‘Mr A’). The Trust refused to disclose … Continue reading East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Dec 2007

The complainant made a request for the rating file of a named caravan site. The information requested was withheld under the exemptions at sections 40(2) (personal information), 44(1) (prohibitions on disclosure) and 42(2) (commercial interests) of the Freedom of information Act 2000; also, under the exceptions at 12(3) (personal data), 12(5)(d) (confidentiality of proceedings) and … Continue reading Valuation Office Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 27 May 2010

The complainant made three requests (dated 14, 15 and 16 May 2007) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’) to the Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust (the ‘Trust’) for correspondence and other information relating to suspensions from the Trust. The Trust dealt with the request of 14 May 2007 under the Data Protection … Continue reading Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 11 Dec 2008

The complainant made a request for information held by Newport City Council relating to various projects and initiatives. The Council stated that to comply with the request would exceed the appropriate cost limit and refused the request on the basis that section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was engaged. During the course … Continue reading Newport City Council (Decision Notice): ICO 27 Oct 2011

The complainant requested details of a Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (‘VOSA’) examiner’s maintenance report and findings. VOSA refused this request under section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’). During the course of the investigation, VOSA also submitted that the information was exempt under section 32 of the Act. Having considered … Continue reading Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Sep 2007

The complainant wrote to North East London NHS Strategic Health Authority (the ‘SHA’) regarding an internal inquiry carried out by East London and The City NHS Mental Health Trust (the ‘MHT’) into the death of a patient (‘Mr A’) in 2001, and the subsequent decision not to hold an independent inquiry into his death – … Continue reading NHS London (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Dec 2007

The complainant made a request to NHS North of Tyne (NHS NoT) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) for information surrounding an orthodontic procurement process which took place in 2009. NHS NoT provided the complainant with some of the requested information; however it withheld some information under section 43(2), section 41 and section … Continue reading NHS North of Tyne (Decision Notice): ICO 26 Oct 2011

The complainant made a request for information for any instructions and advice the public authority held in relation to the fees it was charging for commercial research of planning histories. The public authority confirmed that it held the requested information but withheld it under section 42 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (section 42) … Continue reading West Devon Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 22 Jan 2007

The complainant made a request to Royal Mail Group PLC (the ‘Royal Mail’) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’) for how much money it had spent on management consultants over the previous five years. The Royal Mail confirmed that it held information relevant to the request, but stated that it believed that … Continue reading Royal Mail (Decision Notice): ICO 18 Dec 2008

The complainant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency for details of any monitoring/visits over the past 12 months and any action taken in that time against a particular garage. VOSA refused to confirm or deny if the requested information was held under section 31(3) … Continue reading Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 4 May 2010

The complainant made a request to the London Borough of Bexley (the ‘Council’) for a copy of the legal opinion obtained by the Council in relation to a transfer of Council housing stock to two housing associations. The issue concerns the status of roads and footpaths on transferred estates and whether the Council or the … Continue reading Bexley London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 9 Jun 2010

The complainant requested a copy of a laboratory forensic report in connection with the investigation of a criminal allegation he made against a number of individuals. The Commissioner’s decision is that public authority complied with Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by withholding the Forensic Report from disclosure on the basis of the exemption … Continue reading Essex Police (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Nov 2011

The complainant has requested a copy of compromise agreements entered into with doctors of any grade over the last 10 years. He also requested a list of exploratory issues covered by the compromise agreements (ie. the reasons why the compromise agreements were entered into). The Information Commissioner’s (the Commissioner’s) decision is that the South Tees … Continue reading South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 5 Oct 2011

The complainant asked the public authority for information from case papers relating to an unsolved murder case dating back to 1954. The public authority withheld the information under sections 31, 40(2) and 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’). The Commissioner decided that the exemption under section 31(1) applied to all of … Continue reading National Archives (Decision Notice): ICO 4 Apr 2007

The complainant asked the council to provide copies of any application forms or questionnaires that had been submitted by candidates for the East Hertfordshire Independent Remuneration Panel since April 2010, redacted as appropriate. The council initially refused to provide any of the information on the basis that it was exempt under section 40(2) of the … Continue reading East Hertfordshire District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 15 Nov 2011

The complainant initially made a request to view the medical records of a deceased person. This request was dealt with under the Access to Health Records Act 1990 and the public authority refused to provide the information. The complainant made a second request asking for full access to the records held by the Trust about … Continue reading Walsall NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 13 Dec 2007

The complainant requested copies of the findings of any independent tests commissioned by the public authority to establish if any home networking PLT devices complied with the essential requirements of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (Directive). The public authority confirmed it held a report of an investigation it had conducted under the Directive in relation to … Continue reading Office of Communications (Decision Notice): ICO 23 Feb 2011

The complainant requested information from Doncaster College relating to any investigation reports it holds concerning the conduct or financial issues relating to its senior managers over a four year period. The college refused this request under section 40(3) of the Freedom of information Act 2000. The Commissioner has concluded that the college should have cited … Continue reading Doncaster College (Decision Notice): ICO 29 May 2008

The complainant made a request to the University of Leeds for information relating to the funding, monies and grants provided to the University’s Department of Psychology. The University refused to provide the requested information upon reliance of the provision contained at section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the exemptions contained at … Continue reading University of Leeds (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Dec 2009

The complainant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’) to the Commission for Social Care Inspection (the ‘CSCI’) for a copy of a care report for the Cottage Christian Nursing Home (the ‘CCNH’) dated 17 July 2002. The Commissioner’s decision is that the CSCI breached section 1(1)(a) of the Act … Continue reading Commission for Social Care Inspection (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Jul 2008

The complainant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) for information relating to MOT passes and failures broken down by manufacturer and model of car. VOSA refused the complainant’s request as it stated that the information was exempt from disclosure by virtue of section … Continue reading Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Dec 2009

The complainant requested a copy of an internal Audit Report into allegations of financial irregularities made against the former Director of Research Governance of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the ‘Trust’), together with any background material regarding these allegations. This request was made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’). The Trust … Continue reading Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 27 Sep 2007

The complainant requested information from Calderdale Primary Care Trust concerning the date, place and time a named individual had received sex change surgery. The PCT responded in accordance with the provision of section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner considers that the PCT was excluded from its duty to respond to … Continue reading Calderdale Primary Care Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Mar 2011

The complainant and his partner made a series of requests to the public authority under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the FOI Act’), and complained to the Commissioner about the public authority’s response to two of these requests. The complainant requested the minutes of a meeting that he alleged had taken place between employees … Continue reading Rotherham NHS Primary Care Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 23 Apr 2007

The complainant has requested the proposal letters for any traffic parking schemes and the names of the proposers. South Tyneside Council provided the complainant with the proposal letters which it held but confirmed that some were not held. It refused to provide the names of proposers under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act … Continue reading South Tyneside Council (Decision Notice): ICO 2 Sep 2013

The complainant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust for the text of any compromise agreements it had entered into with doctors and a list of exploratory or illustratory issues which were covered by the compromise agreements. Furthermore the complainant asked the Trust to provide … Continue reading Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Nov 2009

The complainant has requested a copy of compromise agreements entered into with doctors of any grade over the last 10 years. He also requested a list of exploratory issues covered by the compromise agreements (ie. the reasons why the compromise agreements were entered into). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Heart of England NHS Foundation … Continue reading Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 26 Sep 2011

The complainant asked the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services to provide board minutes and papers for a specific time period. The public authority refused to disclose these stating the request was exempt by virtue of the exclusions under sections 14(1) (vexatious requests) and 14(2) (repeated requests) of the Freedom of Information Act … Continue reading Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Mar 2011

The complainant requested Babergh District Council’s (the council’s) letter of instruction to a firm of solicitors sent in 2002 together with a copy of their response some months later. The council said that it could not find the letter of instruction and withheld the response from the solicitors on the grounds that it was legally … Continue reading Babergh District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 10 Mar 2011

The complainant made a number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) to HM Treasury (the Treasury) for information surrounding the consultation paper Restriction of pensions tax relief: a discussion document on the alternative approach dated July 2010. The requests which have been considered by the Commissioner within this Notice were … Continue reading HM Treasury (Decision Notice): ICO 5 Sep 2011

The complainant requested information about the incidents listed on the public authority’s website in which individuals subject to the Football Association’s rules were found to have taken drugs in out-of-competition testing. He requested the name of the club the player was registered to, and the name of the club he was playing for at the … Continue reading UK Sports Council (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Dec 2009

On 22 February 2008 the complainant requested information from Magherafelt District Council in relation to disciplinary action taken against members of The Council staff and the statistics involved. The complainant asked that the information cover the previous three year period. The complainant made it clear in his request that personal information about any individual was … Continue reading Magherafelt District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 19 May 2009

The complainant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’) to NHS East Midlands Strategic Health Authority (the ‘SHA’) for any documentation surrounding the decision of a Scrutiny Group which considered retrospective NHS funding for the long term care of her late husband. The SHA informed the complainant that the Scrutiny … Continue reading NHS East Midlands (Decision Notice): ICO 5 Feb 2008

The complainant made a number of requests to Brent Council for information relating to complaints against it and their outcomes as well as its expenditure. The public authority refused the request on the basis of the provisions of section 14(1) of Freedom of Information Act 2000, (the Act) stating that the request was vexatious. The … Continue reading Brent Council (Decision Notice): ICO 25 Jun 2009

The complainant has requested a copy of compromise agreements entered into with doctors of any grade over the last 10 years. He also requested a list of exploratory issues covered by the compromise agreements (i.e. the reasons why the compromise agreements were entered into). The Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) has provided the … Continue reading Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Oct 2011

The complainant requested information concerning the lack of response to correspondence sent to the public authority. Following intervention from the Commissioner, the public authority informed the complainant that it did not hold the information, but this was not within the 20 working days permitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). The Commissioner … Continue reading Isle of Wight Council (Decision Notice) FS50142028: ICO 10 Sep 2007

The complainant asked the public authority for information about specifications and costs for producing the ‘MadforArts’ project. The public authority provided some information but withheld other elements, citing the exemptions contained in sections 41, 43 and 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’). It subsequently dropped its reliance on section 41. The … Continue reading Department for Culture Media and Sport (Decision Notice) FS50087630: ICO 30 Aug 2007

The complainant requested information relating to long running disputes that he has with the council over planning issues and properties that he owns. The council argued that it did not have to comply with the requests because the requests were vexatious and repeated under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or manifestly unreasonably under the … Continue reading Basildon District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 28 Nov 2011

The complainant made a number of requests for various pieces of information relating to the Towry Law takeover of Edward Jones. The Commissioner’s decision is that some of the requested information is not held, that the Financial Services Authority was correct to withhold some of the information under section 43(2) and section 44(1)(a) of the … Continue reading Financial Services Authority (Decision Notice): ICO 29 Sep 2011

The complainant made a number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for information about Road Licenses and Notices and Proceedings. The public authority did not answer some of the requests and for others denied that it held relevant recorded information. The complainant referred a number of matters to the Commissioner for him … Continue reading Traffic Commissioner for The West Midlands Traffic Area (Decision Notice): ICO 5 Oct 2011

The complainant requested information relating to firearm permits granted to individuals with criminal convictions. The Northern Ireland Office (the NIO) provided some information, but refused to disclose the remainder under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as it comprised sensitive personal data, disclosure of which would be unfair. The Commissioner considers that … Continue reading Northern Ireland Office (Decision Notice): ICO 31 Mar 2011

The complainant requested the Administrators’ reports into the Presbyterian Mutual Society, which was placed in administration in November 2008. DETI refused to disclose the information, relying upon the exemptions set out in sections 31(1)(g) and (h) and 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). The Commissioner finds that the exemption in section … Continue reading Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Dec 2010

The complainant requested that the University of York (the ‘University’) provide her with information regarding Doctor of Philosophy Music degrees conferred on 10 July 2002. The Commissioner is satisfied that the University has provided this information; however the complainant remains dissatisfied with its response. The Commissioner finds no breaches of the Freedom of Information Act … Continue reading University of York (Decision Notice): ICO 9 Feb 2011

The complainant asked the UK Border Agency to provide information relating to suspicious marriages and partnerships. The public authority provided some information but refused to disclose the remainder under sections 40(2) (personal information), 30(1) (investigations and proceedings) and 31(1) (law enforcement) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. During the Commissioner’s investigation it also sought … Continue reading UK Border Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Feb 2011

The complainant requested a copy of the final report by an operator to the CAA of the Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR) of an incident which occurred on 29 August 2004. The Public Authority relied on section 44 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) to withhold the information. The Public Authority cited section 23 … Continue reading Civil Aviation Authority (Decision Notice): ICO 5 Sep 2007

On the 01 January 2005 the complainant requested, a copy of two reports which were ‘ordered and received: (a) from Dr [name redacted] at the Royal Free Hospital, (b) From Professor [name redacted] /Unigenetics Ltd, at the Coombe Women’s Hospital, Dublin.’ The complainant also asked for additional information relating to the funding by the Legal … Continue reading Legal Services Commission (Decision Notice): ICO 30 Aug 2007

The complainant sought information from the Financial Services Authority (‘FSA’) that was generated by and/or considered during the FSA investigation of his complaint against HSBC Investment Bank plc. The FSA refused to disclose certain information relying on section 44 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 citing section 348 of the Financial Services and Markets … Continue reading Financial Services Authority (Decision Notice): ICO 4 Sep 2007

The complainant alleged that Great Sankey Parish Council (the ‘Council’) withheld certain items of information when responding to his request for information about its 2004/2005 end-of-year audit. The Information Commissioner considered that the request fell within the scope of section 15(1) of the Audit Commission Act 1998 (the ‘ACA’), which provides specific rights of access … Continue reading Great Sankey Parish Council (Decision Notice): ICO 7 Aug 2007

The complainant requested information held by the public authority (the ‘Council’) about his client’s applications for planning permission. In particular, the complainant asked for details of doubts raised about abandonment of the use of his client’s land, and about advice obtained and taken into account on that issue. The Council stated that it had provided … Continue reading Bexley London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 28 Mar 2007

The complainant requested information from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) about a list of schools that were considered suitable to become city academies. The public authority refused to disclose the list, relying upon section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner has considered the exempt information in question and is … Continue reading Department for Education and Skills (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Sep 2007

The complainant requested information from the public authority relating to the senior employees employed at the Authority. The complainant requested the names of those senior employees that had their principal private residence within the boundary of the council borough and the names of the senior officers that pay council tax in the borough. The public … Continue reading Wrexham County Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 30 Apr 2007

The requested information related primarily to complaints files, meetings and reports regarding the treatment and care of the complainant’s late son. Initially, the Trust released some information to the complainant under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, withheld some information citing section 42, of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (legal professional privilege), and … Continue reading South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Aug 2007

The complainant requested information held by several Universities, including Oxford University in relation to research it may have undertaken or be undertaking with primates. This included numbers and species of primates used in previous returns already provided to the Home Office along with a summary of any current research and the species being used. The … Continue reading University of Oxford (Decision Notice): ICO 31 Mar 2009

The complainant requested an investigatory report relating to the disciplinary hearing of a head teacher. Wiltshire County Council withheld the information by applying sections 40 and 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner found that section 40(2) was engaged and therefore did not go on to consider whether section 41 applied. He … Continue reading Wiltshire County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 5 Mar 2009

The complainant requested to be advised as to the then current figures for local reference rents in a specified area in the United Kingdom. TRS declined to release the information relying upon an exemption under section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’) indicating that the figures would be contained in an … Continue reading Rent Service (Decision Notice): ICO 24 Jul 2007