Swinney’s staff facing probe by watchdog
JOHN Swinney’s office is to be investigated by the Information Commissioner over fears of ‘political interference’, it has emerged. The watchdog yesterday confirmed that it has launched a probe into the handling of freedom of information (FOI) requests by the Deputy First Minister’s staff.
It will form part of a wider investigation the watchdog has announced into the Scottish Government.
It follows claims that Mr Swinney sought to withhold details of correspondence with Prince Charles over charity Teach First.
This sparked calls for a probe into whether a request from Mr Swinney and his special adviser Colin McAllister led to information being withheld from an FOI release.
Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott is leading the calls for an official investigation. Yesterday, he revealed Scottish Information Commissioner Daren Fitzhenry had written to him confirming the case would form part of a wider review into the Scottish Government’s handling of FOI requests.
The commissioner confirmed the review would look into what the role special advisers have in the process and if there is any evidence of requests being blocked for refused for ‘tenuous reasons’.
He will also investigate whether or not politically sensitive requests are handled in a different way and if this is detrimental.
The letter stated the cases Mr Scott referred to ‘will be included in the list of cases to be examined’.
Ministers had been told Scottish Government special advisers only assess responses for accuracy but a row broke out in Holyrood last week when it emerged Mr Swinney was against releasing information concerning Prince Charles.
A chain of emails also appeared to show FOI requests being screened by the government’s advisers.
Mr Scott said: ‘The Information Commissioner is quite right to investigate these allegations.
‘The documents reluctantly released by the Scottish Government suggested special advisers were interfering in the content of replies to freedom of information requests in the same week ministers told me and Parliament they weren’t.
‘What ministers would “prefer” isn’t relevant when it comes to freedom of information. It is a matter of the law and the public’s right to information.
‘We need a thorough investigation of the Scottish Government’s approach to information governance.’
Last night, the Scottish Government denied there was an investigation into Mr Swinney’s office.
A spokesman said: ‘There is no investigation into the Deputy First Minister or his office and the Commissioner’s letter does not support Mr Scott’s claim.
‘The Information Commissioner’s response to Mr Scott confirms that the case in question is one being considered as part of his general assessment of the Scottish Government’s approach to Freedom of Information.’
‘The public’s right to information’