FOIA Section 44 Exemption: Difference between revisions

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*NB: Decision notices are repeated below where more than 1 law / regulation was used for a s44 exemption
*NB: Decision notices are repeated below where more than 1 law / regulation was used for a s44 exemption
* Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 - section 24
::*Home Office [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50088298.pdf FS50088298] s44 applied correctly
::*Home Office [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50108125.pdf FS50108125] s44 applied correctly (NB: there is a mistake on the ICO website saying "FOI 44 - Complaint Upheld", however the text of the decision notice states "the Commissioner’s decision is that the information withheld by virtue of section 44 is exempt from disclosure")
* Civil Aviation Act 1982 - section 23
::* Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50141902.pdf FS50141902] s44 applied correctly




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::*Office of Fair Trading (OFT) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2006/decision_notice_fs50090136.pdf FS50090136] s44 not applied correctly by the OFT
::*Office of Fair Trading (OFT) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2006/decision_notice_fs50090136.pdf FS50090136] s44 not applied correctly by the OFT
::*East Sussex County Council [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/decision_notice_fs50082765.pdf FS50082765] s44 applied correctly
::*East Sussex County Council [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/decision_notice_fs50082765.pdf FS50082765] s44 applied correctly
* Finance Act 1989 - section 182
::* HM Revenue and Customs [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50068023.pdf FS50068023] section 44 incorrectly applied to some of the information requested




* Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 - section 348
* Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 - section 348
::*Financial Services Authority [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2005/69723%20dn.pdf FS50069723] s44 applied correctly
::*Financial Services Authority (FSA) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2005/69723%20dn.pdf FS50069723] s44 applied correctly
::*Department of Trade and Industry [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2006/decision_notice_fs50065858.pdf FS50065858] s44 applied correctly [section 179 of the Financial Services Act 1986. Although this statute has since been repealed, the restrictions are effectively continued by s.348 of FSMA 2000]
::*Department of Trade and Industry [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2006/decision_notice_fs50065858.pdf FS50065858] s44 applied correctly [section 179 of the Financial Services Act 1986. Although this statute has since been repealed, the restrictions are effectively continued by s.348 of FSMA 2000]
::*Financial Services Authority [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/decision_notice_fs50090867.pdf FS50090867] s44 applied correctly
::*Financial Services Authority [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50090383.pdf FS50094583] s44 applied correctly




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::*Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50094124.pdf FS50094124] s44 applied incorrectly to some of the information requested.  Some information was environmental, and the public interest in maintaining the equivalent exemption (regulation 12(5)(d) outweighed the public interest in disclosure.
::*Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50094124.pdf FS50094124] s44 applied incorrectly to some of the information requested.  Some information was environmental, and the public interest in maintaining the equivalent exemption (regulation 12(5)(d) outweighed the public interest in disclosure.
::*Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50129516.pdf FS50129516] s44 not applied correctly
::*Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50129516.pdf FS50129516] s44 not applied correctly
::*Commission for Local Administration in England [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50096459.pdf FS50096459] s44 applied correctly
::*Commission for Local Administration in England [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs50112347.pdf FS50112347] s44 applied correctly to "the majority" of the information requested.  Currently under appeal to the Information Tribunal.
* Local Government Act 1972 - schedule 12A
::* Vale of Glamorgan Council [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50090383.pdf FS50090383] s44 not applied correctly.  This is an important reference case as sch 12A of LGA 9172 is the predecessor Act to the FOI Act that prevented disclosure about certain categories of local goverment meetings/minutes.
* Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 - section 11(2)
::* Parliamentary Commissioner for England [http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50101616_vers2.pdf FS50101616] s44 applied correctly





Revision as of 15:25, 22 December 2009

Section 44: Prohibitions On Disclosure

Section 44 applies to three distinct categories of information:

  1. If there is an existing statutory bar to the disclosure of information by a public authority then that information will be exempt;
  2. If disclosure would be incompatible with a European Community obligation then the information will be exempt; and
  3. If disclosure would constitute or be punishable as a contempt of court at common law (for example because it would breach a court order) then it will be exempt.

Key points:

  • The Human Rights Act 1998 can be a statutory bar to the disclosure of information if to do so would breach one of the Convention rights that have been incorporated into domestic law;
  • Section 44 is not subject to any public interest balance.

What the law says

44 Prohibitions on disclosure

(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure (otherwise than under this Act) by the public authority holding it—
(a) is prohibited by or under any enactment,
(b) is incompatible with any Community obligation, or
(c) would constitute or be punishable as a contempt of court.
(2) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if the confirmation or denial that would have to be given to comply with section 1(1)(a) would (apart from this Act) fall within any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1).

Decision Notices

  • NB: Decision notices are repeated below where more than 1 law / regulation was used for a s44 exemption


  • Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 - section 24
  • Home Office FS50088298 s44 applied correctly
  • Home Office FS50108125 s44 applied correctly (NB: there is a mistake on the ICO website saying "FOI 44 - Complaint Upheld", however the text of the decision notice states "the Commissioner’s decision is that the information withheld by virtue of section 44 is exempt from disclosure")


  • Civil Aviation Act 1982 - section 23
  • Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) FS50141902 s44 applied correctly


  • Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005
  • HM Revenue and Customs FS50168774 s44 applied correctly
  • HM Revenue and Customs FS50090387 s44 applied correctly


  • Companies Act - section 447
  • Department of Trade and Industry FS50071795 s44 not applied correctly by the DTI
  • Department of Trade and Industry FS50086783 s44 applied correctly


  • Data Protection Act 1998
  • Standards Board for England FS50064699 s44 applied correctly
  • Maldon District Council FS50087443 ["The Commissioner is not convinced of the relevance of s.7(4) of the DPA to the complainant’s request. S.7(4) only comes into play in the context of a subject access request made under the DPA by an individual seeking access to information about himself. In this case, no subject access request was made]
  • Information Commissioner (ICO) FS50126668 s44 applied correctly


  • Enterprise Act 2002 - part 9, sections 237-245
  • Office of Fair Trading (OFT) FS50090136 s44 not applied correctly by the OFT
  • East Sussex County Council FS50082765 s44 applied correctly


  • Finance Act 1989 - section 182
  • HM Revenue and Customs FS50068023 section 44 incorrectly applied to some of the information requested


  • Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 - section 348
  • Financial Services Authority (FSA) FS50069723 s44 applied correctly
  • Department of Trade and Industry FS50065858 s44 applied correctly [section 179 of the Financial Services Act 1986. Although this statute has since been repealed, the restrictions are effectively continued by s.348 of FSMA 2000]
  • Financial Services Authority FS50090867 s44 applied correctly
  • Financial Services Authority FS50094583 s44 applied correctly


  • Health Service Commissioner’s Act 1993 - section 15(1)
  • Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) FS50140862 s44 applied correctly, confirmed at Information Tribunal (EA/2007/0046)


  • Local Government Act 1974 - section 32(2)
  • Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) FS50102256 s44 applied correctly
  • Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) FS50129885 s44 applied correctly
  • Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) FS50078583 s44 applied incorrectly to some of the information requested
  • Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) FS50094124 s44 applied incorrectly to some of the information requested. Some information was environmental, and the public interest in maintaining the equivalent exemption (regulation 12(5)(d) outweighed the public interest in disclosure.
  • Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) FS50129516 s44 not applied correctly
  • Commission for Local Administration in England FS50096459 s44 applied correctly
  • Commission for Local Administration in England FS50112347 s44 applied correctly to "the majority" of the information requested. Currently under appeal to the Information Tribunal.


  • Local Government Act 1972 - schedule 12A
  • Vale of Glamorgan Council FS50090383 s44 not applied correctly. This is an important reference case as sch 12A of LGA 9172 is the predecessor Act to the FOI Act that prevented disclosure about certain categories of local goverment meetings/minutes.


  • Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 - section 11(2)
  • Parliamentary Commissioner for England FS50101616 s44 applied correctly


  • Police Act 1996 - section 80
  • Independent Police Complaints Commission FS50069386 s44 applied correctly


  • Premium Savings Bond Regulations 1972
  • National Savings and Investments FS50101920 s44 applied correctly, confirmed at Information Tribunal (EA/2006/0010)


  • Taxes Management Act 1970
  • HM Revenue and Customs FS50090387 s44 applied correctly


  • Utilities Act 2000 - section 105
  • Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) FS50070198 s44 applied correctly



to be completed, more decisions to be added

Freedom of Information Act 2000
Exemptions
12 21 22 22A 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44