Government FOI mistake releases personal details

AScottish Government blunder led to the release of personal details identifying members of the public who complained about Margaret Ferrier MP.

A freedom of information (FOI) request showed how more than 70 people got in touch with Scottish ministers, mainly First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, in the two weeks after allegations emerged about Ms Ferrier last year.

It has been confirmed the government admitted last month it had “accidentally released a small amount of personal data” relating to the complainants when it answered the FOI a few days before Christmas.

Ms Ferrier, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, was suspended by the SNP after she allegedly travelled from Glasgow to London last September while waiting for the results of a Covid test and then returned by train after testing positive.

The 60-year-old appeared in court in February charged with culpable and reckless conduct. She made no plea and was released on bail.

It is understood the personal details of the complainants were sent to the member of the public who submitted the FOI, and the government contacted him to ask him to delete the information three months later.

The government said it redacted the names and contact information when it published the FOI response on its website.

A complaint was made to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about the error. However, the regulations place an onus on the government as data controller to report such incidents if they meet a certain threshold.

Government officials are believed to have discussed the case internally but decided against referring it to the ICO as it was “determined to be a minor breach and therefore a low risk to the individuals identified”.

Donald

Cameron,

Conservative candidate in the Highlands and Islands, said: “We all know the SNP Scottish Government had a terrible track record for transparency, and it’s getting worse.

“So it’s all the more galling when private information is sent to members of the public.

“Personal information is rightly enshrined in data protection legislation.

“Careless breaches of confidentiality like this only erode public confidence.”

Mr Cameron added: “The Scottish people should feel able to speak freely to those in charge without having their identity plastered across government communications.”

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