But it said Bethell had confirmed that about six months ago his phone was broken and replaced and that his new phone did not contain the phone data. Bethell previously faced calls for his resignation after the Guardian revealed that a number of emails had been copied into his private email account. His address was copied into at least four official exchanges relating to a businessman who was attempting to get government contracts during the pandemic. But Denham said she was concerned information in private email accounts or messaging services was forgotten, overlooked, auto-deleted or otherwise not available when a freedom of information request was later made. “This frustrates the freedom of information process, and puts at risk the preservation of official records of decision-making.

Source: The Guardian August 04, 2021 12:12 UTC