Department for Business & Trade (DBT)

The complainant submitted a request to Department for Business and Trade (DBT) seeking a copy of a report it had commissioned into National Investigation Service (NATIS). DBT disclosed a redacted version of the report with information being withheld on the basis section 31(1)(a) and (b) (law enforcement), 35(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy), 40(2) (personal data), 41(1) (information provided in confidence) and section 43(2) (commercial interests of FOIA). The Commissioner’s decision is that the redacted information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of sections 31(1)(a) and (b) and the public interest favours maintaining each of the exemptions. First-tier tribunal (General Regulatory chamber) information rights appeal FT/EA/2025/0236 under appeal.