Decision 110/2014 Paul Hutcheon and the Scottish Ministers
Communications on policy and energy meetings between the First Minister and Iberdrola: Failure to respond within statutory timescales
Reference No: 201400900
Decision Date: 23 May 2014
Summary
On 24 December 2013, Mr Hutcheon asked the Scottish Ministers (the Ministers) for communications between the First Minister and the Chairman of Iberdrola on issues relating to policy and energy, and meetings between the Scottish Government and the company. This decision finds that the Ministers failed to respond to the request within the timescale allowed by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). The decision also finds that the Ministers failed to comply with Mr Hutcheon's requirement for review within the timescale set down by FOISA.
Background
| Date | Action |
| 24 December 2013 | Mr Hutcheon made an information request to the Ministers. |
| | The Ministers did not respond to the information request. |
| 24 February 2014 | Mr Hutcheon wrote to the Ministers requiring a review in respect of their failure to respond. |
| | Mr Hutcheon did not receive a response to his requirement for review. |
| 28 April 2014 | Mr Hutcheon wrote to the Commissioner's Office, stating that he was dissatisfied with those failures and applying to the Commissioner for a decision in terms of section 47(1) of FOISA. |
| 7 May 2014 | The Ministers were notified in writing that an application had been received from Mr Hutcheon and were invited to comment on the application. |
| 22 May 2014 | The Commissioner received submissions from the Ministers. These submissions are considered below. |
Commissioner's analysis and findings
1. The Ministers informed the Commissioner that they had carried out a review of Mr Hutcheon's request and had emailed it to him on 21 May 2014. A copy of the response was provided to the Commissioner.
2. The Ministers explained to the Commissioner and to Mr Hutcheon that his request had not been allocated correctly on receipt, and acknowledged that it had taken them longer than it should have done to respond. The Ministers apologised for the delay in responding to Mr Hutcheon's request and requirement for review.
3. Section 10(1) of FOISA gives Scottish public authorities a maximum of 20 working days following the date of receipt of the request to comply with a request for information. This is subject to qualifications which are not relevant in this case.
4. It is a matter of fact that the Ministers did not provide a response to Mr Hutcheon's request for information within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that they failed to comply with section 10(1) of FOISA.
5. Section 21(1) of FOISA gives Scottish public authorities a maximum of 20 working days following the date of receipt of the requirement to comply with a requirement for review. Again, this is subject to qualifications which are not relevant in this case.
6. It is a matter of fact that the Ministers did not provide a response to Mr Hutcheon's requirement for review within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that they failed to comply with section 21(1) of FOISA.
7. Given that the Ministers responded to Mr Hutcheon's requirement for review on 21 May 2014, the Commissioner does not require them to take any further action in relation to Mr Hutcheon's application.
Decision
The Commissioner finds that the Scottish Minsters (the Ministers) failed to comply with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) in responding to the information request made by Mr Hutcheon. In particular, they failed to respond to Mr Hutcheon's request for information and requirement for review within the respective timescales laid down by sections 10(1) and 21(1) of FOISA.
Given that the Ministers have now responded to Mr Hutcheon's request and requirement for review, the Commissioner does not require the Ministers to take any action in response to these failures.
Appeal
Should either Mr Hutcheon or the Scottish Ministers wish to appeal against this decision, they have the right to appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law only. Any such appeal must be made within 42 days after the date of intimation of this decision.
Alison Davies
Deputy Head of Enforcement
23 May 2014
