appendix d: summaries of selected cases be declined, the Ombudsman was of the opinion that the Ministry should have made a decision on the request as soon as possible after receiving it. (Case No. 2010-3954-2000) 13-5. Request for access in general case regarding trips made by employees A journalist complained to the Ombudsman about the Ministry of Taxation’s refusal of his request for access to information about nine trips made by employees of the Central Customs and Tax Administration (SKAT). The grounds given by the Ministry to the journalist for its refusal were that the Ministry had not been able to find any documents or information about the trips by searching its records. During the Ombudsman’s investigation of the case, the Ministry located nine questionnaires about the trips. The questionnaires had been completed by employees and were meant for use in a review in connection with the report to Parliament which the journalist has referred to in his request for access. The Ministry of Taxation stated to the Ombudsman that the journalist could not be granted access to the questionnaires because they were part of the employees’ personnel files. The Ministry referred to section 2(2) of the Act on Public Access to Documents on Public Files. The Ombudsman stated that in his opinion the questionnaires were part of the case concerning the general review for use in the report to Parliament. Consequently, the Ombudsman did not find that section 2(2) of the Act on Public Access to Documents on Public Files could be used as grounds for exemption from access. The Ministry should have made an individual assessment of whether the information could be exempted from access. In addition, the grounds given by the Ministry to the journalist for its refusal to grant access could, in the Ombudsman’s opinion, leave the incorrect impression that the Ministry was not in possession of documents or information about the nine trips. The Ombudsman therefore criticised the Ministry of Taxation for giving a misleading reason for its refusal. The Ombudsman asked the Ministry of Taxation to reopen the case. (Case No. 2011-1088-8019) 123