Exemptions
The scheme has been drawn in such as way as to exclude classes of information that are exempt under the Freedom of Information Act. However, individual items of information or documents or parts of them in a class may be exempt, even though the class in general is listed here. Personal data and information that affects our commercial operations are two examples. If you make a request that includes any exempt piece of information we will explain what has been omitted and why. If you believe that a piece of information has been illegitimately withheld, you can complain using the BSU Complaints Procedure, when the judgement of the Information Officer will be reviewed internally. If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of the Complaints Procedure, you can appeal to the Information Commissioner.
Current Exemptions
The following information is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
A. Exemptions Where the Public Interest Test Applies
Under the "public interest test" material that it would be against the public interest to supply is exempted.
- s22: Information intended for future publication;
- s24: National security;
- s26: Defence;
- s27: International relations;
- s28: Relations within the United Kingdom;
- s29: The economy;
- s30: Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities;
- s31: Law enforcement;
- s33: Audit functions;
- s35: Formulation of government policy, etc.;
- s36: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs (except information held by the House of Commons or the House of Lords);
- s37: Communications with Her Majesty, etc., and honours;
- s38: Health and safety;
- s39: Environmental information;
- s40: Personal information (Only where the information concerns a third party and a s.10 notice under the Data Protection Act 1998 applies to that information);
- s42: Legal professional privilege;
- s43: Commercial interests.
B. The Absolute Exemptions
If these exemptions apply it is not necessary to go on to consider whether the disclosure is in the public interest.
- s21: Information accessible to applicants by other means;
- s23: Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security;
- s32: Court records, etc;
- s34: Parliamentary;
- s36: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs (only applies to information held by the House of Commons or the House of Lords);
- s40: Personal information (where the applicant is the subject of the information);
- s41: Information provided in confidence;
- s44: Prohibitions on disclosure where a disclosure is prohibited by an enactment or would constitute contempt of court.