Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-06126, in the name of Edward Mountain, on freedom of information requests. 14:41

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I am delighted to bring to the chamber this motion on freedom of information and at the outset I move the motion in my name. I started campaigning to becom...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Joe FitzPatrick) SNP

Would the member like to comment on the article entitled “FOI failings at the heart of government”, which was published on the BBC’s website earlier this wee...

Edward Mountain Con

I love taking such interventions, because they remind me of when I was about eight years old and I was in the playground. If I got criticised for doing somet...

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Edward Mountain Con

I am short of time, so unless I am—

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I can give you half a minute extra.

Edward Mountain Con

Thank you.

Neil Findlay Lab

Does the member think that there is a correlation between garbage parliamentary answers and the spike in FOI requests?

Edward Mountain Con

Yes. It is clear that the Government is truly good at spin, but it is not good at listening and telling the whole story. That spin was evident yesterday whe...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Please move the motion, Mr Mountain.

Edward Mountain Con

I am sorry; I thought that I moved it at the beginning of my speech.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I do not think that you did, but members are nodding, so I shall check the Official Report. It is not a problem if you move the motion twice.

Edward Mountain Con

I would never disagree with the Presiding Officer. I move, That the Parliament condemns the Scottish Government’s poor performance in responding to freedom...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Joe FitzPatrick to speak to and move amendment S5M-06126.1. 14:50

The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Joe FitzPatrick) SNP

I thank Mr Mountain for giving us the opportunity to discuss how we might improve openness and transparency. First I want to address our performance. Twelve...

Neil Findlay Lab

A week ago, the minister claimed that he wanted to highlight the Government’s achievements on transparency, saying that the Government operated to the highes...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

If Mr Findlay had bothered to listen to anything that I said last week, he would have heard me making the point. We are clear that our performance is not wha...

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

I am grateful to the minister for giving way on the point about responding to the concerns expressed in the journalists’ letter earlier this month. One of th...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

No. Requests are all prepared by Scottish Government officials. Special advisers have a role in assessing draft responses for accuracy. Laughter. As discus...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The minister is concluding.

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Scotland Act 2013 improved the legislation by strengthening the ability to prosecute for an offence under the Freedom ...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the opportunity to speak in today’s debate, following the motion that was raised for debate last week by Neil Findlay, who highlighted some of the ...

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

Today marks the third time in as many weeks that we are discussing the Scottish Government’s issue with transparency. We bring to the chamber today not just ...

Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP

Did the member say “Westminster”?

Jamie Greene Con

Is that an intervention? I shall carry on. Interruption. Did I hear the words “UK Government” or “Westminster”? I am sure that that will be the excuse, as al...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I start by welcoming the Government’s announcement, which takes the public accessibility and availability of information relating to FOI requests—information...

Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Stewart Stevenson SNP

I will, if it is brief.

Johann Lamont Lab

It will be brief. Does the member accept that people are being driven to use FOI because of the very poor quality of written answers that we get in this Parl...