Part IIExempt information

Section 21Information accessible to applicant by other means.
(1) Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) — (a) information may…
Section 22Information intended for future publication.
(1) Information is exempt information if— (a) the information is held by the public authority with a view to its publication, by the authority or any other person,…
Section 22AResearch
(1) Information obtained in the course of, or derived from, a programme of research is exempt information if— (a) the programme is continuing with a view to the…
Section 23Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters.
(1) Information held by a public authority is exempt information if it was directly or indirectly supplied to the public authority by, or relates to, any of the…
Section 24National security.
(1) Information which does not fall within section 23(1) is exempt information if exemption from section 1(1) (b) is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. (2)…
Section 25Certificates under ss. 23 and 24: supplementary provisions.
(1) A document purporting to be a certificate under section 23(2) or 24(3) shall be received in evidence and deemed to be such a certificate unless the contrary…
Section 26Defence.
(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice— (a) the defence of the British Islands or of any…
Section 27International relations.
(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice— (a) relations between the United Kingdom and any other State,…
Section 28Relations within the United Kingdom.
(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between any administration in the United Kingdom and any…
Section 29The economy.
(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice— (a) the economic interests of the United Kingdom or of…
Section 30Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities.
(1) Information held by a public authority is exempt information if it has at any time been held by the authority for the purposes of— (a) any investigation…
Section 31Law enforcement.
(1) Information which is not exempt information by virtue of section 30 is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice—…
Section 32Court records, etc.
(1) Information held by a public authority is exempt information if it is held only by virtue of being contained in— (a) any document filed with, or otherwise…
Section 33Audit functions.
(1) This section applies to any public authority which has functions in relation to— (a) the audit of the accounts of other public authorities, or (b) the examination…
Section 34Parliamentary privilege.
(1) Information is exempt information if exemption from section 1(1) (b) is required for the purpose of avoiding an infringement of the privileges of either House of Parliament.…
Section 35Formulation of government policy, etc.
(1) Information held by a government department or by the Welsh Assembly Government is exempt information if it relates to— (a) the formulation or development of government policy,…
Section 36Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs.
(1) This section applies to— (a) information which is held by a government department or by the Welsh Assembly Government and is not exempt information by virtue of…
Section 37Communications with Her Majesty, etc. and honours.
(1) Information is exempt information if it relates to— (a) communications with the Sovereign, (aa) communications with the heir to, or the person who is for the time…
Section 38Health and safety.
(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to— (a) endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or…
Section 39Environmental information.
(1) Information is exempt information if the public authority holding it— (a) is obliged by environmental information regulations to make the information available to the public in accordance…
Section 40Personal information.
(1) Any information to which a request for information relates is exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject. (2) Any…
Section 41Information provided in confidence.
(1) Information is exempt information if— (a) it was obtained by the public authority from any other person (including another public authority), and (b) the disclosure of the…
Section 42Legal professional privilege.
(1) Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege or, in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications could be maintained in legal proceedings is exempt information.…
Section 43Commercial interests.
(1) Information is exempt information if it constitutes a trade secret. (2) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to,…
Section 44Prohibitions on disclosure.
(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure (otherwise than under this Act) by the public authority holding it— (a) is prohibited by or under any enactment, (b)…

https://foia.digiphile.law/part/part-II.html

Text as at 7 October 2026.

This is an unofficial convenience version of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It is presented “as is” without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or reliability. See the source text for the official version. This site was last updated in October 2026.