ICO warns ministers over use of personal email accounts

Data watchdog the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has raised concerns about ministers’ use of private email systems, which may be being used to avoid freedom of information (FOI) requests.

The commissioner, Christopher Graham, raised his concerns with senior officials at the Department for Education (DfE) after being passed emails by the Financial Times.

The FT had obtained emails between senior DfE officials – including education minister Michael Gove – which were sent via personal accounts, such as Gmail. The contents of those emails included discussions relating to government business.

But when the FT sought disclosure of those emails through the use of targeted FOI requests, the DfE said it had no record of the information.

While ministers and officials are able to use private emails to conduct government business, they are required by law to disclose such use.

But the DfE denies any wrongdoing took place.

“The permanent secretary [Paul Sweeney] believes that all departmental officials act within the law,” a spokesperson for the DfE told Computing.