Secretary of State for Defence (Ministry of Defence)

The complainant submitted a request to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeking a copy of two reports completed following the ‘Astral Bend’ emergency exercise. The MOD initially withheld the reports in full on the basis of sections 24(1) (national security), and 26(1)(a) and (b) (defence). It subsequently disclosed redacted versions of the reports relying on the above exemptions and section 40(2) (personal data) to withhold information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the redacted information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of sections 26(1)(a) and (b), and section 40(2) of FOIA.