First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber)

EA-2023-0405 - [2024] UKFTT 00700 (GRC)

Fecha: 30-Jul-2024

Additional submissions from HMT

Additional submissions from HMT

68.

The tribunal sought additional submissions and clarification in relation to a number of issues from HMT as follows:

68.1.

Why section 40(2) applies to the individuals, other than Rishi Sunak, whose names have been redacted with specific reference to the grade and/or level of seniority of each individual.

68.2.

Confirming which exemption is relied on to make the redactions referred to in paragraph 8 of the closed annex to the Decision Notice and explaining that basis for the application of that exemption.

68.3.

Explaining why section 27 is engaged and the public interest favours withholding the information with reference to the specific content of the information withheld under section 27.

69.

HMT helpfully clarified that section 27 was relied on in relation to 67.2.

70.

Unhelpfully HMT provided no separate submissions in relation to 67.1 and 67.3. Instead it relied on its previous ‘statement of facts’, its rule 14 Application and Annex A. There were no substantive submissions in the rule 14 application or Annex A which addressed the matters in in 67.1 or 67.3. HMT have not provided a document headed ‘statement of facts’ but the tribunal has taken into account any submissions already provided by HMT in, for example, its response to the appeal and in its letters to the Commissioner.