Derek McDowell (Labour)

This is where my difficulty lies. It is almost impossible for someone to appeal a refusal of information if they have not been told that information exists in the first place. If I go to the Department of Finance looking for these budget submissions and the Department neither confirms nor denies that there are such things, how can I test whether or not a public interest test has been carried out? How can I test what went through the Secretary General's mind in refusing my application if he is not telling me he had information in the first place?