Freedom of information: A guide for business - Herbert Smith Freehills

FOIA
provision Exemption Absolute/qualified Nearest equivalent EIR exemptions*
Section 30
Information has been
held for the purposes of
a criminal investigation or
proceedings or was obtained
in connection with certain
criminal/civil investigations
or proceedings and relates
to obtaining information from
confidential sources
Qualified
Disclosure would adversely affect the
course of justice or ability of a public
authority to conduct an inquiry of a criminal
or disciplinary nature (Reg. 12(5) (b))
Section 31
Disclosure would/would be likely
to prejudice law enforcement
interests and activities (including
regulatory investigations and
proceedings, tax control
and immigration)
Qualified
Disclosure would adversely affect the
course of justice, ability of a person to
receive a fair trial or ability of a public
authority to conduct an inquiry of a criminal
or disciplinary nature (Reg. 12(5) (b))
Section 32
Information forms part of a
court record
Absolute
None, although public authorities acting
in a judicial capacity are automatically
excluded from scope of the EIR (Reg. 3(3))
Section 33
Disclosure would/would be likely
to prejudice exercise of public
audit functions
Qualified
None, although could consider whether
request involves disclosure of internal
communications (Reg. 12(4) (e))
Section 34
Information must be withheld
to prevent an infringement of
parliamentary privilege
Absolute
EIR do not apply to either House of
Parliament to the extent required in order
to avoid an infringement of parliamentary
privilege (Reg. 3(4))
Section 35
Information relates to the
formulation or development
of government policy and
ministerial communications
Qualified
Request involves disclosure of internal
communications, including between
government departments (Reg. 12(4) (e)
and 12(8))
Section 36
Disclosure would/would be likely
to prejudice effective conduct of
public affairs
Qualified (absolute
where relates
to information
held by House of
Commons/House
of Lords)
Might be able to rely on exemption where
disclosure of internal communications,
including between government
departments (Regs. 12(4) (e) and 12(8))
Section 37
Information relates to
communications with the Queen
or Royal Family
Absolute where
relates to Queen,
heir to throne
or second in
line to throne,
otherwise qualified
None, although could consider whether
request involves disclosure of internal
communications (Reg. 12(4) (e))
Section 38
Disclosure would/would be likely
to endanger health and safety of
any individual
Qualified
Disclosure would adversely affect public
safety (Reg. 12(5) (a))
Section 39
Environmental information falling
under scope of EIR
Absolute – EIR
apply instead
N/A – though note that there is an
exemption where disclosure would
adversely affect the protection of the
environment to which the information
relates (Reg. 12(5) (g)) (this exemption
cannot apply where the information relates
to emissions)
Section 40(1)
Information which constitutes
personal data of applicant
Absolute (to be
dealt with under
DPA 1998)
Equivalent exemption in Regs. 12(3)
and 13
* All EIR exemptions are qualified
18 A freedom of information guide for business