Information Commissioner's Office

Department for Culture Media and Sport

4 July 2017, Central government

The complainant has requested information concerning Departmental meetings with BP plc and invitations issued to Ministers by BP plc to attend cultural events or performances.  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) provided some information within scope of the request but withheld some information from the note of a meeting on 9 June 2015 between the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries and representatives of BP plc.  DCMS withheld the information under Section 35(1)(a)(formulation or development of government policy) and Section 27(1) (prejudice to international relations).  Section 35(1)(d)(the operation of any Ministerial private office) and Section 40(2) were also applied to a small amount of the withheld information. The Commissioner’s decision is that DCMS was entitled to rely on Section 35(1)(a) to withhold all of the withheld information and the balance of the public interest supported maintaining the exemption.

FOI 35(1)(a): Not upheld