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Decision 124/2017: Ms Anna Hamilton and the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council
Contracted legal services: failure to respond within statutory timescales
Reference No: 201701119
Decision Date: 1 August 2017
Summary
On 6 and 7 March 2017, the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (the SFC) was asked for various information about the review of governance at Glasgow Clyde College, following the suspension of the Principal in February 2015. In particular, the SFC was asked to provide the tender for legal services and the contract agreed with DLA Piper.
This decision finds that the SFC failed to respond to the request and requirement for review within the timescales allowed by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).
The Commissioner has ordered the SFC to comply with the requirement for review.
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Background
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Date
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Action
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6 and 7 March 2017
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Ms Hamilton made an information request to the SFC on 6 March, adding to it on 7 March.
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The SFC did not respond to her information request.
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4 May 2017
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Ms Hamilton wrote to the SFC requiring a review in respect of its failure to respond.
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23 May 2017
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Although Ms Hamilton received an acknowledgement, she did not receive a response to her requirement for review.
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26 June 2017
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Ms Hamilton received an update from the SFC, explaining the reason for the delay, but she still did not receive a response to her request.
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27 June 2017
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Ms Hamilton wrote to the Commissioner's Office, stating that she was dissatisfied with the SFC's failures to respond and applying to the Commissioner for a decision in terms of section 47(1) of FOISA.
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14 July 2017
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The SFC was notified in writing that an application had been received from Ms Hamilton and was invited to comment on the application.
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20 July 2017
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The Commissioner received submissions from the SFC. These submissions are considered below.
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Commissioner's analysis and findings
1. When contacted by the Commissioner, the SFC confirmed that it had failed to comply with Ms Hamilton's requests and requirement for review. It explained that it had received an unprecedented increase in information requests between 1 January and 30 June 2017, many of which were complex, involving multiple questions.
2. The SFC explained that this had a significant impact on staff resources, resulting in the SFC's inability to comply with all requests within the statutory timescales. It also explained that this had also coincided with the SFC's busiest time of year, when it was finalising funding allocations to Colleges and Universities.
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 SFC did not provide a response to Ms Hamilton's request for information within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that it 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 SFC did not provide a response to Ms Hamilton's requirement for review within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that it failed to comply with section 21(1) of FOISA.
7. The remainder of section 21 sets out the requirements to be followed by a Scottish public authority in carrying out a review. As no review has been carried out in this case, the Commissioner finds that the SFC failed to discharge these requirements: she now requires a review to be carried out in accordance with section 21.
8. The Commissioner recommends that the SFC also considers whether it would be appropriate to apologise to Ms Hamilton for its failure to comply.
Decision
The Commissioner finds that the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (the SFC) failed to comply with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) in responding to the information request made by Ms Hamilton. In particular, the SFC failed to respond to Ms Hamilton's request for information and requirement for review within the timescales laid down by sections 10(1) and 21(1) of FOISA.
The Commissioner requires the SFC to provide Ms Hamilton with a response to her requirement for review, by 15 September 2017.
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Appeal
Should either Ms Hamilton or the SFC 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.
Enforcement
If the SFC fails to comply with this decision, the Commissioner has the right to certify to the Court of Session that the SFC has failed to comply. The Court has the right to inquire into the matter and may deal with the SFC as if it had committed a contempt of court.
Alison Davies
Deputy Head of Enforcement
1 August 2017
