Key Facts
- •Alistair Blackburn requested information from The Royal Mint about its policy on accepting returned UK coinage from outside the UK.
- •The Royal Mint responded, stating it no longer accepts such returns since September 2019.
- •Blackburn appealed to the Information Commissioner, arguing the response lacked detail and that a more detailed policy existed but wasn't publicly available.
- •The Information Commissioner dismissed the appeal, concluding The Royal Mint held no further relevant information.
- •Blackburn appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT).
Legal Principles
Right of access to information held by public authorities.
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), Section 1(1)
The test for determining whether information is held by a public authority is the balance of probabilities.
Bromley v Information Commissioner & the Environment Agency EA/2006/0072
The Tribunal's role is to determine if the Commissioner's decision was in accordance with the law or if discretion was wrongly exercised.
FOIA, Section 58
Public authorities have a duty to provide advice and assistance in relation to information requests (where reasonable).
FOIA, Section 16
Outcomes
The appeal is allowed.
The Tribunal found the Commissioner erred in concluding The Royal Mint held no further relevant information. The request for a 'full description' of the policy implied a request for all relevant information, and the existence of an internal, undisclosed policy supported this.
Substituted Decision Notice issued.
The Royal Mint must reconsider its analysis of the request, provide a fresh response including any relevant information or exemptions, and provide advice and assistance as reasonably expected.