FOI release

FOI202600001S Soho Home LTD

Published 20 January 2026

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST REF: FOI2026_00001S 

Thank you for your email of 6 January 2026 asking for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. You asked: 

“Can you please provide further details of the £28,979 spent with Soho Home listed in FCDO Services spending over £500, October 2025, published in January 2026. 

Link here: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/695b8ae8e8f9a8d94d8d193c/FCDO_Services_spending_over_500_October_2025.csv 

Can you please list each item bought, its cost and where the item is now placed in the FCDO. (Please name the location…ie Office of the permanent secretary, Foreign secretary, SPAD office….etc)” 

I am writing to confirm that we have now completed the search for the information which you requested.  I can confirm that FCDO Services does hold information relevant to your request. 

One of the services that FCDO Services provides is interior design. The purchases made at Soho Home by FCDO Services’ Interior Design Team on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) were for use in representational areas of the Paris diplomatic estate.   

Soho Home Limited - £28,979.00 (inclusive of VAT)   

The items purchased were:  

• Modular Sofa, L-Shape x 1  

• Round Dining Table x 1  

• Pair of Dining Chairs x 3  

• Console Unit x 2  

• Square Cushion x 3  

• Footstool x 2  

• Rug x 1  

• Modular Sofa, Armless module x 1  

• Side Table x 2   

The final spend will be lower once pending refunds are processed.  

The invoices themselves have been withheld under s43 of the Freedom of Information Act, which relates to Commercial interests. Additional information on this exemption is provided below.   

Section 43 

Section 43(2) of FOIA exempts from disclosure information which would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person. It is a prejudice-based exemption, so the test for exemption is whether or not the individual’s commercial interests would be prejudiced by disclosure and it is subject to balancing the public interest. It is recognised that there is a general public interest in the disclosure of commercial information to ensure, for example: transparency in the accountability of public funds; proper scrutiny of government action; and the effective use of public money. However, where disclosure would make it less likely that companies or individuals would provide the department with information in the future or where disclosure would make it more difficult for individuals to be able to conduct commercial transactions, or have future dealings with public bodies, without fear of suffering commercially as a result, these are factors that may weigh in favour of non-disclosure.   

We considered the commercial interests of third parties and the benefit to the public for the release of this information. We also considered the impact that this may also have on our future business relationships. In considering this case and the details required, we consider that the public interest in favour of disclosing such information is outweighed by the obligation to protect the commercial interests of third parties. We have therefore taken the decision to withhold the information. 

Once an FOI request is answered, it is considered to be in the public domain.  To promote transparency, FCDO Services may now publish the response and any material released on GOV.UK in the FOI releases section.  All personal information in the letter will be removed before publishing.  

Where copies of information have been supplied to you they will continue to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.  You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting.  Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder.  Most documents supplied by the FCDO will have been produced by government officials and will be protected by Crown Copyright.  To re-use Crown Copyright documents please consult the Open Government Licence v3 on the National Archives website. 

Information you receive which is not subject to Crown Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. You must ensure that you gain their permission before reproducing any third party (non-Crown Copyright) information. 

If you would like to request a review of our decision, you should write to the Data Protection Officer (DPO), Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) Team, FCDO Services, Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes, England, MK19 7BH (e-mail: FCDOServices.DataProtectionOfficer@fcdo.gov.uk).  Please note you have 40 working days to do so from the date of this letter. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications. 

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the FCDO. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, or online at: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/  

Yours sincerely, 

FOI Officer 

Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) Team 

FCDO Services