World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FOI)

Request

We would like to receive copies of any correspondence (emails and meeting notes) between government representatives in Jersey, and the UK Department of Health, which relate to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, between 1 May 2016 and to date.

Response

This information is considered qualified exempt under Article 35 (Formulation and Development of Policies) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

Exemption applied

Article 35 - Formulation and development of policies

Information is qualified exempt information if it relates to the formulation or development of any proposed policy by a public authority.

Justification for exemption

Since the applied exemption is a qualified exemption, we have conducted a public interest test as required by Article 9(2) to assess whether, in all the circumstances of this request, the public interest in supplying the information is outweighed by the public interest in not doing so.

Whilst we accept that the public may have an interest in the subject in question, this interest is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring that ongoing policy development in this area is not influenced or compromised by the premature disclosure of information that relates to work that is still in progress.