Department of Health and Social Care

The complainant has requested information on the advice given by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to NHS Trusts about how to respond to freedom of information requests for Brexit self-assessments. The DHSC refused the request on the basis of section 35(1)(a). The Commissioner’s decision is that the section 35 exemption is engaged but the balance of the public interest favours disclosure of the withheld information. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the withheld information.