SNP’s culture of secrecy ‘got WORSE under Nicola’
THE SNP’s secrecy culture was stepped up after Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister and promised more open government, it was claimed yesterday.
Scotland’s freedom of information (FOI) tsar said in June that journalists and political researchers were being treated differently to members of the public when requesting data.
And it emerged last week that special advisers (Spads) are still vetting and redacting FOI responses despite the furore over the secretive approach of officials. Yesterday, it was revealed that the policy of treating the media differently was brought in soon after Miss Sturgeon became First Minister. She had pledged in November 2014 that her Government would be ‘open, listening, accessible and decentralising’.
Last night, Scottish Tory chief whip Maurice Golden said: ‘The SNP’s commitment to transparency and accountability has been rightly criticised. Nicola Sturgeon could sort this out in an instant if she wanted to. She’s the boss and the buck stops with her.
‘Instead, she continues to allow ministers to be evasive on the topic, and civil servants to routinely interfere with legally binding submissions.’
A report by Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) Daren Fitzhenry in June said that ‘journalists, with MSPs and political researchers, are expressly made subject to a different process for clearance than other requester groups’. FOI campaigner and journalist James McEnaney asked when this policy had started and was told by the Scottish Government that ‘the process of FOI clearance was produced by the FOI unit on March 24, 2015’.
When he asked who approved the change, he was told the Government ‘does not hold any information’.
Mr McEnaney tweeted that it ‘remains the case – at least at this stage – that the Scottish Government claims to have absolutely no idea who authorised this change or how it came about’.
It emerged last week that Miss Sturgeon’s political advisers continue to meddle in FOI requests.
Government spin doctors have been suggesting ‘further redactions’ and ‘editing’ of responses.
The SIC report found ministers routinely intervened following requests for politically sensitive information.
Spads also tried to influence the refusal and delay of information they do not want in the public domain, it said. Internal documents have been published which show Spads continue to interfere.
The Scottish Daily Mail launched its Secret Scotland campaign exposing a culture of secrecy within public bodies and authorities after it was revealed that Spads are playing an increasing role. The First Minister’s ‘spin team’ grew from ten in June 2016 to 14 in November last year – at a cost to the taxpayer of £1,045,486, up from £897,714 the previous year.
The SIC was unable to comment due to the possibility of an FOI appeal, but a spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government is developing an action plan in response to our recommendations.
‘This is due to be submitted for the Commissioner’s approval by September 13.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘All FOI requests are dealt with under the exact same processes and guidelines. The Government co-operated fully with the SIC’s comprehensive, independent review on FOI practice and have now accepted his recommendations in full.’
‘The buck stops with her’