Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office)

The complainant has requested information on potential queue lengths and delays relating to the introduction of new EU border checks known as the Entry/Exit System (EES). The Home Office refused to disclose the information, citing the exemptions at sections 27(1)(a), (b) and (c) (International relations), 35(1)(a) (Formulation of government policy etc) and 43(2) (Commercial interests). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to rely on section 35(1)(a) to refuse to disclose the requested information.