You asked
I would like to request under FOI to see the details of the negotiations between HMT Treasury and the UK Statistics Authority over the 2014 Pay award.
We said
Information falling within scope of your request is held by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However ONS is of the view that these documents directly relate to the formulation and development of government policy and so are exempt from disclosure under Section 35(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act. In addition the release of this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of ONS, and is therefore also exempt under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of information Act.
In coming to this decision ONS has considered the public interest in release of this information. Whilst ONS recognises that there is always interest in the allocation of public funds we believe that this is outweighed in this instance by the necessity for a safe space to discuss and decide policy and the safeguarding of ONS commercial interests.