Part II
(4) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a)—
- (a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1), or
- (b) would involve the disclosure of any information (whether or not already recorded) which is confidential information obtained from a State other than the United Kingdom or from an international organisation or international court.
(5) In this section—
- “international court” means any international court which is not an international organisation and which is established—
- (a) by a resolution of an international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member, or
- (b) by an international agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party;
- “international organisation” means any international organisation whose members include any two or more States, or any organ of such an organisation;
- “State” includes the government of any State and any organ of its government, and references to a State other than the United Kingdom include references to any territory outside the United Kingdom.
Relations within the United Kingdom. 28.—(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 other such administration.
(2) In subsection (1) “administration in the United Kingdom” means—
- (a) the government of the United Kingdom,
- (b) the Scottish Administration,
- (c) the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or
- (d) the National Assembly for Wales.
(3) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1).
The economy. 29.—(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 any part of the United Kingdom, or
- (b) the financial interests of any administration in the United Kingdom, as defined by section 28(2).
(2) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1).
Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities.
30.—(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—