Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office)

The complainant has requested information in relation to the citizenship of former first lady of Syria, Asma Al-Assad. The Home Office has refused to confirm or deny that the information is held, citing section 40(5B) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to rely on section 40(5B) of FOIA to neither confirm nor deny whether it holds the requested information. The Commissioner does not require further steps.