Welsh Language Commissioner - FOI 44(1)(a) Exemption Complaint Not Upheld
Summary
The Information Commissioner has issued a decision on a complaint against the Welsh Language Commissioner (WLC) regarding a Freedom of Information Act request. The complainant sought information about meetings of the Advisory Panel held during the past year. The WLC withheld this information under section 44(1)(a) of FOIA. The ICO found that the WLC was entitled to withhold the information under this exemption, meaning the complaint was not upheld. No further action is required from the WLC.
“The Commissioner’s decision is that the WLC was entitled to withhold information under the exemption cited.”
About this source
The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's data protection and freedom of information authority. Decision notices are the formal written outcomes of ICO investigations into complaints against public authorities for Freedom of Information Act compliance. Around 230 decisions a month, each naming the authority, request details, whether the request was upheld, partially upheld, or rejected, and any remedial action ordered. Decision notices are a rich vein of information about UK government transparency and often reveal what specific requests ICO considers legitimate. Watch this if you file FOI requests in the UK, advise public authorities on disclosure obligations, or research information rights case law.
What changed
The Welsh Language Commissioner withheld information regarding Advisory Panel meetings under section 44(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, which prohibits disclosure. The ICO determined the exemption was correctly applied and the complaint against this withholding was not upheld.
Public authorities handling FOIA requests should note that section 44(1)(a) prohibits on disclosure remain valid grounds for withholding information when properly invoked. The decision confirms that the WLC had legitimate grounds to refuse disclosure in this instance, with no remedial steps required.
Archived snapshot
Apr 28, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Welsh Language Commissioner
- Date 23 April 2026
- Sector Other, Regulators
- Decision(s) FOI 44(1)(a): Not upheld The complainant requested from the Welsh Language Commissioner (WLC) information relating to meetings of the Advisory Panel held during the past year. The WLC confirmed it holds the information but withheld it under section 44(1)(a) (prohibitions on disclosure) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the WLC was entitled to withhold information under the exemption cited. He does not require the WLC to take any steps as a result of this decision.
Named provisions
Mentioned entities
Related changes
Get daily alerts for ICO Decision Notices
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from ICO.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when ICO Decision Notices publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.