24Refusing access because information is exempt

24 Refusing access because information is exempt (1) The public sector organisation may decide to refuse access to the information because the information is exempt under Part 4 (Exemptions in the public interest). (2) Subject to subsection (3), the public sector organisation must specify in the notice of decision under section 20 the reasons for refusing access, including the provision of this Act because of which access is refused. (3) If it is not in the public interest for the applicant to know whether the information exists or not, the public sector organisation is not required in the notice of decision under section 20: (a) to confirm or deny the existence of the information; or (b) to give reasons for refusing access to the information. Information Act 2002 22