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Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Thursday, 14 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 (named day). It was answered by Chris Ward (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.


Cabinet Office and Prime Minister: Email

Question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street Freedom of Information determine Government emails held on tape backups to be information held by the public authority.

Answer

The Freedom of Information Code of Practice, issued in 2018 under the previous administration, states that information which is only held by a public authority in electronic backup files should generally be regarded as ‘not held’ for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1187
Session
2026-27
Related items
Cabinet Office and Prime Minister: Email
Monday, 8 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Freedom of information Cabinet Office Email Prime Minister
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk