You asked
I am writing to make a request for information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act.
I would like to request the following information:
- How much money did the ONS spend on paid promotions of the 2020 Census on social media using "influencers"?
We said
Thank you for your request.
The costs associated with this service are a part of a wider packaged contract. The details of the negotiated costs of this wider packaged contract would be exempt under s.43 of the Freedom of Information Act (2000), as disclosure would prejudice the commercial interests of ONS and its supplier.
The use of this exemption is subject to the public interest test.
Whilst we recognise arguments in favour of transparency and accountability regarding information pertaining to government public spending, we also value the public interest in our own capability to negotiate and to compete in a commercial environment.
Disclosure of the requested information would jeopardise our ability to negotiate future contracts and procurements at an advantageous price for us, which would be in the public interest as this will help to preserve public funds.
Additionally, it is also in the public interest for public authorities to be able to maintain the trust and confidence of the suppliers with which we work. Disclosure of the cost of this service would negatively impact a third party's ability to generate higher levels of income in the future, as their ability to experience open and fair competition for their services would be compromised. This would therefore render this supplier and other companies unwilling to work with us in the future. We would therefore have a reduced pool of suppliers with which we could negotiate. This damage to our reputation therefore directly and negatively impacts our commercial interests.
Therefore, the public interest in withholding this information outweighs the benefit of release.