The Access to Information Act, 2016 (c) if the request is declined the reasons for making that decision, including the basis for deciding that the information sought is exempt, unless the reasons themselves would be exempt information; and (d) if the request is declined, a statement about how the requester may appeal to the Commission‖; (5) A public officer referred to in subsection (1) may seek the assistance of any other public officer as the first mentioned public officer considers necessary for the proper discharge of his or her duties and such other public officer shall render the required assistance. (6) Where the applicant does not receive a response to an application within the period stated in subsection (1), the application shall be deemed to have been rejected. Transfer of application. 10. (1) An information access officer may, not later than five days from the date of receipt of an application, transfer the application or any relevant part of it, to another public entity, if the information requested is held by that other public entity. (2) Where an application is transferred under subsection (1), an information access officer shall inform the applicant immediately but in any event not later than seven days from the date of receipt of the application, about such transfer. (3) A public entity to which an application is referred by an information access officer under subsection (1) shall make a decision on the application within twenty-one days from the date that the application was first made. (4) The provisions of this section shall apply with the 17