Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 June 2017
21 Jun 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Freedom of Information Requests
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 always. [Interruption.]
It is not just me asking those questions. Rosemary Agnew, the former Scottish Information Commissioner, branded the Government’s performance as “totally unacceptable”. We already know that earlier this month journalists from across the political spectrum, not just from certain areas, signed a joint letter about delayed responses, poor responses and, in some cases, no response at all.
What we are asking for today is nothing out of the ordinary. I want other parties to back our motion not to make a political point, but to send a really important and clear message. The Scottish Government, its ministers, directorates, public bodies and the whole civil service must be open to interrogation; more important, their responses should be abundant, forthcoming and accurate. Having listened to the minister’s spin today, I am afraid that we have a long way to go.
15:06In the same item of business
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...