To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria are used in deciding on whether to use a ministerial veto under section 53 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. (261523)

I placed in the Libraries of both Houses a copy of the criteria used in considering the first exercise of the veto when I made my statement to the House on this matter on 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 153. These criteria apply to cases engaging section 35(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The criteria are also published on the Ministry of Justice website.