First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber)

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

Fecha: 30-Jul-2024

HMT’s response

HMT’s response

41.

HMT submitted that the Commissioner was justified in taking the approach set out in the Decision Notice. In particular, he correctly identified the interests in play – namely those in favour of disclosure, the interest in protecting the international relations between the UK and the US, those of Mr Sunak, and of those of other persons whose identity would be exposed by disclosure, and the limited additional value of the information being disclosed for transparency – and carried out a justified balancing act of those interests.

42.

In particular, HMT said that the Decision correctly emphasised:

42.1.

The fact that the Request concerned matters which were both personal and matters which related to public functions.

42.2.

As such, it was important to reflect that the reasonable expectations of the individuals concerned would be that certain information would not become public.

42.3.

Disclosure would be of limited additional transparency, given the existence of Lord Geidt’s report and its analysis of the self-same issues.