When can we refuse a request?

In some cases, there will be a good reason why the University should not make public some or all of the information requested.

There are 24 exemptions to disclosure within the Act; the most applicable to the sort of information held by the University are:

S12. Where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit
S21. Information is accessible by other means
S22. Information is intended for future publication
S36. Prejudice to the conduct of public affairs
S38. Health and Safety
S40. Personal Information
S41. Information provided in confidence
S43. Commercial Interests

Please note that corporate or individual embarrassment is not an exemption, neither is the fact that data has been labelled ‘confidential’.

If you think any of these exemptions could apply to the information being requested, please contact us as soon as possible. All refusals require detailed explanations of why an exemption applies in each individual case; formulating these cases can take a considerable time, and may even require us to seek external legal advice. The Act does not allow us any time beyond the normal time limit to do this.