ICO Decision Notice: Cabinet Office FOI Request Breach

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice (IC-372572-H7D1) concerning a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to the UK Cabinet Office. The complainant sought information regarding Nigel Farage and Reform UK. While the ICO determined that any information held would not be subject to FOIA, it found that the Cabinet Office breached section 10(1) of FOIA by failing to respond to the request within the mandated 20 working days.

This decision highlights the importance of adhering to statutory response times for FOI requests, even when the substantive information sought may not be disclosable under FOIA. Government agencies must ensure their internal processes are robust enough to meet these deadlines to avoid breaches. While no specific penalties are detailed in this notice, failure to comply with FOIA obligations can lead to further scrutiny and potential sanctions from the ICO.