9 September 2025
James
[FYI request #31888 email]
Dear James
Official Information Act request: Communications on investigation into the Electoral
Commission
Thank you for your email of 4 August 2025 requesting information, under the Of icial
Information Act 1982 (the Act), regarding communications between my Office and the Ministry
of Justice concerning the Electoral Commission investigation. Specifically, you requested:
Under the OIA please provide all emails, texts and communications between
you/your office and the Ministry of Justice relating to advice you sought regarding if
an investigation into the Electoral Commission was warranted.
This should also include the advice that was provided.
In response to your request, please refer to the table attached which lists al the documents in
scope of your request and my decision on their release. Some information has been withheld
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural persons, and some information
has been removed as out of scope.
In accordance with section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in making
available the information being withheld, and determined that it does not outweigh the need
to withhold the information at this time.
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Of ice
of the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. The Ombudsman may be contacted by
email to [email address] or by phone on 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister of Justice
Table: Documents in scope of request
Doc
no.
Date
Document
Type
Document title
Decision on release
Between the Ministry of
1
19 February
Text
2025
message
Justice and a Private
Some information withheld
Secretary
under section 9(2)(a) of the
Act
2
21 February
2025
Email
BP: Electoral Commission
Some information removed
Electoral Commission
2.1 21 February
as out of scope and some
2025
Briefing
matters
information withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act
