Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

The complainant submitted a request to Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLHUC) seeking copies of equalities information it provided to HM Treasury in relation to the 2020 spending review, along with information about any guidance which accompanied this process. DLUHC confirmed that it held information falling within the scope of the request but explained that it considered this to be exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 35(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of FOIA and that the public interest favoured maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 35(1)(a). However, the Commissioner has decided that the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption. Information Tribunal FTT EA/2023/0378 under appeal.