Festive menus (2021)
Request
Please could you provide me with copies of all festive 2021/2022 menus at the House's catering and restaurant facilities?
Response
This information is held by the House of Commons.
The information you have requested for 2021 is intended for future publication by the middle of December 2021. Festive menus for 2022 are intended for future publication by the middle of December 2022. The information you have requested is therefore being withheld under section 22 FOIA. This is a qualified exemption, and we have to consider whether the public interest is in withholding the information or in disclosing it. The arguments for and against disclosure are detailed below.
The general argument in favour of releasing information is that there is a public interest in being able to scrutinise aspects of the House of Commons where that information might be easy to access and will not prejudice the House. The argument against disclosure is the public interest in permitting public authorities to publish information in a manner and form and at a time of their own choosing. It is a part of the effective conduct of public affairs that the general publication of information is a conveniently planned and managed activity within the reasonable control of public authorities. Where the decision has been made in principle to publish, there is a reasonable entitlement to make arrangements to do so.
The information you have requested will be available by the aforementioned dates on the Catering Services area of our Transparency pages.