You asked
I am contacting you with a freedom of information request, as it is my intention to compile a list of Professional Bodies such as trade associations and professionals such as trades people, lawyers, accountants, surveyors etc.
The information required to carry out my survey would be :-
Name of Organisation Address of Organisation Trading Name or Organisational Name Clubs and associations in regard to professional bodies
We said
ONS is unable to provide this information. Section 44 (1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act exempts information if its disclosure is prohibited by or under any enactment. Access to these records is subject to a general prohibition on disclosure, under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 (STA), because the exemption in S44 of the FOI Act is an absolute exemption there is no need in this instance to consider the public interest test.