John Edwards waiting for DSIT decision on his position

In February, Information Commissioner John Edwards voluntarily stepped back from his duties to enable an independent workplace investigation to take place.

The investigation has now concluded. “As the Information Commissioner is accountable to Parliament, and not employed by the ICO, the next steps will be determined by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT),” the ICO says.

“The investigation has found there is a case to answer. The Commissioner will now be temporarily unable to act in fulfilling his responsibilities for the remainder of the process.”

Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Paul Arnold will temporarily perform the non-delegable duties of the Information Commissioner with the title of Temporary Acting Accounting Officer for the ICO, the ICO says.

The uncertainty causes some confusion at a critical time. The ICO is due to formally publish its new strategy under the Data (Use and Access) Act to set out how it will deliver on the new framework, but the names of the seven Non-Executive Directors have not yet been announced by the government, and the Information Commissioner is the Chair of the new Information Commission.

See:

• ICO - Temporary governance changes at the ICO

4 senior staff from the ICO and 2 from DSIT will be speakers at PL&B’s 39th International Conference