Labour accuses Scottish Government of contempt

The Scottish Government has been accused of showing “contempt” for the public after refusing to turn over its own correspondence with university bosses on students returning to campuses.

Officials claimed it was too costly to “locate and retrieve” communications between ministers and Universities Scotland regarding preparation for institutions to reopen, the return of in-person learning and students moving to term-time accommodation.

The resumption of fulltime learning in September led to outbreaks of coronavirus at dozens of universities across the UK, including cases linked to student accommodation in Aberdeen , Dundee , St Andrews and Glasgow.

The Scottish Government was forced to issue fresh guidance allowing strug gling students to re turn home on a permanent basis but others were warned they face fines and being kicked out of university if they are caught on short visits.

Questions remain over whether students will now be allowed to return home for Christmas or if teaching time may need to be cut short to allow residents in term-time accommodation to self-isolate before visiting their families.

Nicola Sturgeon rejected any suggestion the decision to allow student accommodation to fully reopen was influenced by pressure from universities concerned about a further loss of income this year if people stay at home.

But her government has refused to turn over communications it had with industry leaders following a Freedom of Information request by Scottish Labour.

The party’s education spokesman, Iain Gray, said: “Officials’ refusal to disclose this vital information displays the same level of contempt for openness and transparency they showed to students when they gave them the go- ahead to return to campuses across the country this summer.”

The Scottish Government said: “While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the cost of location and prov id ing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

“Under Section 12 of FOISA, public authorities are not required to comply w ith a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by regulations made under Section 12.”