Department For Education (DFE)
- Date 4 June 2025
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 35(1)(a): Not upheld, FOI 40(2): Not upheld
The complainant has requested information about meetings in which the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 was discussed. The Department for Education (DfE) withheld some of the information under sections 35(1)(a) and 40(2) of FOIA. These exemptions concern the formulation of government policy, etc and personal data respectively. DfE has subsequently confirmed that it is also relying on section 41(1) of FOIA to withhold the information, which concerns information provided in confidence. The Commissioner’s decision is that DfE correctly applied sections 35(1)(a) and 40(2) of FOIA to the information it’s withholding. It’s not necessary for DfE to take any steps.