Chapters: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | annex A
| Section No | Absolute (A) or subject to s.2 (Q) | Limited to that held by or obtained from certain bodies | Limited to particular purposes or content | Limited to particular prejudice | Applies a different disclosure regime | Duration | Certification procedure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 (Information accessible to the applicant by other means) |
A | Yes (makes general provision) |
Unlimited (except where held in PRO) |
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| 22 (Information intended for future publication) |
Q | Yes | Unlimited (except where held in PRO) |
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| 23 (Information supplied by, or relating, bodies dealing with security matters) |
A | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | |||
| 24 (National security) |
Q | No | Yes (the exemption must be 'necessary' to safeguard national security) |
Unlimited | Yes | ||
| 26 (Defence) |
Q | Yes | Unlimited | ||||
| 27 (International Relations) |
Q | Yes *ss(2) and (4)(b) exempts information if it is confidential information obtained from another State or an international organisation or court |
Yes (ss (1) and (4)(a) only) |
Unlimited | |||
| 28 (Relations within the United Kingdom) |
Q | Yes | 30 years | ||||
| 29 (The Economy) |
Q | Yes | unlimited | ||||
| 30 (Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities) |
Q | Yes | 30 years | ||||
| 31 (law enforcement) |
Q | Yes | 100 years | ||||
| 32 (Court records etc) |
A | Yes | Yes | 30 years | |||
| 33 (Audit functions) |
Q | Yes | Yes | 30 years | |||
| 34 (Parliamentary privilege) |
A | Yes (the exemption must be 'necessary' to avoid infringing parliamentary privilege) |
Unlimited | Yes | |||
| 35 (Formulation of government policy etc) |
Q | Yes | Yes | 30 years | |||
| 36 (Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) |
Q (except when relating to both Houses of Parliament) |
Yes (the exemption must be necessary to avoid prejudicing public affairs) |
30 years | Yes (Qualified person) |
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| 37(1) (Communications with Her Majesty) |
Q | Yes | 30 years | ||||
| 37(2) (Honours) |
Q | Yes | 60 years | ||||
| 38 (Health and Safety) |
Q | Yes | Unlimited | ||||
| 39 (Environmental Information) |
Q | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | |||
| 40 (Personal information) |
A (ss (1) and part of (2)) Q (rest of ss (2)) |
Yes | Yes | Unlimited | |||
| 41 (Information provided in confidence) |
A | Yes | No | Yes | Unlimited | ||
| 42 (Legal Professional Privilege) |
Q | Yes | 30 years | ||||
| 43 (Commercial interests) |
Q | Yes (ss (1) only) |
Yes (ss (2) and (3) |
30 years | |||
| 44 (Prohibitions on disclosure) |
A | No | Unlimited |