Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC)
- Date 28 November 2025
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 1(1): Upheld, FOI 10(1): Upheld, FOI 16(1): Upheld, FOI 43(2): Not upheld, FOI 44(1)(a): Not upheld, FOI 17(1): Upheld
The complainant has requested information supplies of methylphenidate. In respect of two parts of the request, the final position of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was to disclose some information (with personal data redacted) and to withhold the remainder under sections 43(2) and 44(1) of FOIA. These exemptions concern commercial interests and prohibitions on disclosure, respectively. DHSC also confirmed it doesn’t hold some of the information. Regarding part 2 of the request, the Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information engages section 43(2) and section 44(1)(a) of FOIA. However, DHSC communicated the non-exempt information within scope of this part, and applied the section 44 exemption, outside of the 20 working day requirement. It therefore breached sections 1(1), 10(1) and 17(1) of FOIA. Regarding part 4, DHSC didn’t offer the complainant adequate advice and assistance at the time of the request and so didn’t comply its obligation under section 16(1) of FOIA. The Commissioner doesn’t require further steps.