I am writing to advise you 1 The PPA holds the information you requested on 2 March 2005, namely information about the volume of prescriptions for the past two years for Adizem XL written by the Lodden practice. 2 However, I have decided not to disclose the information. The information you requested is being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act. In applying this exemption I have had to balance the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosing the information. The attached annex to this letter sets out the exemption in full, as well as the factors I considered when deciding where the public interest lay. Factors for disclosure - Public accountability Factors for withholding - Potentially serious detrimental affect on the viability of the practice Reasons why public interest favours withholding information - I consider that the public accountability in releasing this information is outweighed by the potential serious detrimental affect on the viability of the practice and the loss of service to the local community that this would represent.