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Written question asked by Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 (named day). It was answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information

Question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to FOI2025/18430 and Internal Review IR2026/03033, concerning background papers relating to the meeting on 28 August 2019 attended by Boris Johnson, Peter Thiel and Dominic Cummings, what specific prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs was identified as arising from disclosure of those papers.

Answer

As set out in its response of 4 February 2026, the Cabinet Office recognises that there is a public interest in the transparency in how it makes decisions on responses to written parliamentary questions.

However, effective responses to written parliamentary questions rely on a safe space within which issues can be discussed openly and frankly.

The disclosure of the requested information would have a prejudicial effect on these relationships, which would not be in the public interest.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17527
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Disclosure of information Freedom of information Cabinet Office Johnson, Boris Cummings, Dominic Thiel, Peter
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk