Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 June 2018
20 Jun 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Freedom of Information (Scottish Government Request Handling and Record Keeping)
Tony Blair, the architect of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, later said of his creation:
“Freedom of information. Three harmless words. I look at those words as I write them, and feel like shaking my head till it drops off my shoulders. You idiot. You naïve, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop.”
The former Prime Minister went on to say:
“Where was Sir Humphrey when I needed him?”
I am no supporter of Tony Blair—nor, indeed, of Sir Humphrey—and I firmly believe that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 strengthens our democracy and is intrinsic to holding the Government of the day to account. The Scottish Government might not like that, but that is democracy. It is why I would like to move the amendment in my name, which calls on the Scottish Information Commissioner to publish an annual report into the Scottish Government’s performance in handling FOI requests.
I encourage all members to support my amendment, which seeks to strengthen scrutiny and would ensure that the Scottish Government was made accountable for its performance every year.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-12861, in the name of Rhoda Grant, on a review of Scottish Government freedom of information request hand...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
The intervention report from the Scottish Information Commissioner exposes the utter contempt in which this Scottish National Party Government holds the free...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I speak as someone who ceased to be a minister six years ago and who, for three years after being a minister, continued to be asked for confirmation about FO...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
It is surely for the minister to ensure that his answer to an FOI request is right because, ultimately, the Government is responsible. If a minister needs to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
If you want your motion to be voted on, you had better move it.
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I move, That the Parliament notes the concerns raised on Scottish Government transparency in the intervention report from the Scottish Information Commissio...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Joe FitzPatrick, who has a tight six minutes. 14:48
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Joe FitzPatrick)
SNP
In speaking to the amendment in my name, I thank Rhoda Grant for giving us the opportunity to further debate the Scottish Information Commissioner’s interven...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will Joe FitzPatrick take an intervention?
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I will make some progress, if that is okay. Turning to today’s motion and its call for an independent review of FOI handling, I hope that no member doubts t...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Before the minister moves on, will he tell members how many times his Government has broken the law in relation to FOI?
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
Neil Findlay makes a point that Andy Wightman raised during last week’s statement. They imply that the report suggested that the Government broke the law, bu...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am sorry, minister, you must conclude.
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
—and help to ensure that FOISA remains fully effective in holding to account those who are responsible for delivering public services. I urge members to supp...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am sorry, but we are very short of time—there is no time in hand. I call Edward Mountain to speak to and move amendment S5M-12861.1. You have five minutes,...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Tony Blair, the architect of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, later said of his creation: “Freedom of information. Three harmless words. I look at those...
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green)
Green
The amendment talks about making “public the report on the government’s implementation of the action plan when approved annually.” The commissioner has com...
Edward Mountain
Con
It is not my understanding that the commissioner has agreed to publish it annually—that is the point that I am making. I would like to see it published annua...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Is that an instruction that the provider of information look further, to ensure that there is no additional information to be provided, or is it meant in som...
Edward Mountain
Con
The way in which it is phrased gives a clear indication of what is to be achieved. It does not ask for more information; it asks about what information is to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
There is no time in hand, so I will be strict with timings. Andy Wightman, you have four minutes. 15:00
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I welcome the debate and endorse everything in the Labour motion. It seems unkind to be here again, giving the Government another kicking, but I hope that th...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I am grateful to the Labour Party for securing the debate, for the significant reason that it allows us to retell the story of Alex Salmond’s tartan trousers...
Willie Rennie
LD
I do, because it speaks to the wider problem, which is the Scottish Government’s addiction to secrecy. Even for such a simple issue as a pair of tartan trous...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Although I do not really care much about Mr Salmond’s sartorial inelegance, I do care about the fact that he and other ministers go to Qatar to flog our publ...
Willie Rennie
LD
That is absolutely right. I am sure that he bought a different pair of tartan trousers when he went to Qatar, because the other ones were not good enough. I...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
It is often the case that when people talk of democracy they think of voting, and when they talk of Parliament they think of powers, but the reality is that ...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
SNP
Like other members, I welcome the debate and its generally serious tone because, as has been said already, the transparency of the Government, public agencie...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Will the member give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
Mr Macpherson is in his last minute.