Costs of height-adjustable desks

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.028543

I note you seek access to the following information:

This is an information request relating to the purchase of height-adjustable desks.

Please include the information for each of the following financial years; 2021/22, 2022/23 (financial year):

1. The number of height-adjustable desks purchased
2. The cost of these height-adjustable desks
3. Copies of any invoices for these height-adjustable desks

Decision

Having located and considered the relevant information. I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some information has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Partial Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 43(2) - Commercial Interest.

Reason for decision

When a request is made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act), a public authority must inform you, when permitted, whether the information requested is held. It must then communicate that information to you. If a public authority decides that it is cannot comply with all or part of a request, it must cite the appropriate section or exemption of the Act and provide you with a suitable explanation. It is important to note that the Act is designed to place information into the public domain, that is, once access to information is granted to one person under the Act, it is then considered public information and must be communicated to any individual should a request be received.

I have considered question 3 of your request for information below:

• Copies of any invoices for height-adjustable desks in the financial years; 2021/22, 2022/23.

Section 43(2) - Commercial Interests - Under the Act, there are two types of exemptions that can be applied to information considered unsuitable for public release. These exemptions are referred to as absolute exemptions and qualified exemptions. When an absolute exemption is applied to information, a public authority is not required to consider whether release of that information is in the 'public interest'. When a qualified exemption is applied to information, a public authority must establish whether the 'public interest' lies in disclosing or withholding the requested information.

In considering whether or not this information should be disclosed, we have considered the potential harm that could be caused by disclosure.

The information relates to invoices for the purchase of height-adjustable desks in the financial years; 2021/22, 2022/23.

To release:

• Copies of invoices for the purchase of these height-adjustable desks.

Into the public domain, could compromise the MPS’ ability to achieve best value for money from other Commercial contractor’s in future tenders.

As the ICO Freedom of Information Awareness Guidance states, "there is a public interest in ensuring that companies are able to compete fairly". It is likely that the disclosure of this information would impact the MPS’ ability to achieve best value for money from other Commercial contractor’s in future tenders.

It is not in the public interest for the MPS to be negatively affected.

We have considered whether the public interest lies in favour of releasing the requested information into the public domain or whether there is sufficient reason to support withholding the requested information. Having considered your request and having examined the associated risk in release, we have found there is a risk to the commercial interests of the MPS. We believe this risk, as outlined above, is both real and likely.

Therefore, it is our opinion that for these reasons the balance test for disclosure is not made out.

Disclosure

For each of the following financial years; 2021/22, 2022/23 (financial year):
Q1 - The number of height-adjustable desks purchased.
Q2 - The cost of these height-adjustable desks.

Please see below information pursuant to your request above.

Year	Number Purchased	Total Cost
2021/22	454	£364,435.91
2022/23	155	£140,600.17