Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The complainant has requested the document which instructed that the term “safeguarding” should no longer be used within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP relied on section 14(1) to refuse to comply with the request as it considered the request was vexatious. The Commissioner’s decision is that the request is not vexatious and DWP is not therefore entitled to rely on section 14(1). The Commissioner requires DWP to issue a fresh response to the request which does not rely on section 14(1). The public authority must take these steps within 30 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.