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Version status: In force | Document consolidation status: Updated to reflect all known changes
Version date: 25 May 2018 - onwards
Version 3 of 3

15. Refusal on administrative grounds to grant FOI requests

(1) A head to whom an FOI request is made may refuse to grant the request where -

(a) the record concerned does not exist or cannot be found after all reasonable steps to ascertain its whereabouts have been taken,

(b) the FOI request does not comply with section 12(1)(b),

(c) in the opinion of the head, granting the request would, by reason of the number or nature of the records concerned or the nature of the information concerned, require the retrieval and examination of such number of records or an examination of such kind of the records concerned as to cause a substantial and unreasonable interference with or disruption of work (including disruption of work in a particular functional area) of the FOI body concerned,

(d) the information is already in the public domain,

(e) publication of the record is required by law and is intended to be effected not later than 12 weeks after the receipt of the request by the head,