Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 16 of the House Commons Library Deposited Paper, DEP2019-0490, Prison Operator Competition Contract Summary, how his Department decides what information held by private prison operators will not be disclosable under the Freedom of Information Act.

All Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests will be addressed in accordance with guidance laid down by the Information Commissioners Office and within the relevant legislation.

Any exemptions applied according to Section 43 (trade secrets and commercial interests) take into consideration what private prison operators indicate is commercially sensitive to them, however, the final decision is taken by the Authority in accordance with the public interest tests applicable under the FOIA.