Date ministers informed of requirement to extend Disclosure Scotland IT contract: FOI release

Details, including any correspondence (emails, typed or handwritten notes, letters, phone calls, minutes of meetings, documents or otherwise), of when Scottish Government ministers were informed that the BT contract for the Disclosure Scotland IT system would be required to be extended.

Also, any subsequent correspondence (emails, typed or handwritten notes, letters, phone calls, minutes of meetings, documents or otherwise) or meetings between SG ministers and anyone at Disclosure Scotland regarding the extension.

The answer to your question is:

Ministers were advised on 20 August 2018 that a new contract with BT would be required to replace the one that was due to end on 30 September. Ministers agreed to the advice on 21 August 2018. The relevant documents are attached to the email covering this reply.

The new contract was discussed at a meeting between Ministers and Disclosure Scotland staff on 5 September 2018.  No notes were made at the meeting.

Document 1 – email to Ministers dated 20 August 2018.

An exemption applies.

In the minute to Ministers dated 20 August 2018, some information has been redacted by the exemption at section 38(1)(b) of FoISA, the personal data of a third party, as disclosing the personal data would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulations. This exemption is not subject to a public interest test. 

Document 2 – Minute to Ministers dated 20 August 2018.

An exemption applies.

In the minute to Ministers dated 20 August 2018, some information has been redacted by the exemption at section 38(1)(b) of FoISA, the personal data of a third party, as disclosing the personal data would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulations. This exemption is not subject to a public interest test.

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test.

In this minute, information has been redacted under the exemption at section 30(c), the effective conduct of public affairs. This is the ability of Scottish Ministers and their officials to deliver Ministers’ functions in relation to the disclosure regime in Scotland which supports employers’ recruitment practice, and prevents unsuitable individuals doing regulated work with vulnerable groups.

The disclosure regime in Scotland is at a crossroads with incremental and developmental work now in progress to move it from a mainly paper based to an online system. Given the proximity of the information requested to that work, we believe its success could be put in jeopardy.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate.  We have, however, considered the public interest in disclosing the redacted information, and on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.  

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest.

In that same minute, some information has been redacted under the exemption at section 30(b)of FoISA, free and frank provision of advice. The text has been redacted as it would be likely to inhibit substantially the free and frank  provision of advice were it released.  

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. We have, however, considered the public interest in disclosing the redacted information, and on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.  

Document 3 – email from the Deputy First Minister dated 21 August 2018.

An exemption applies.

In the email from the Deputy First Minister of 21 August 2018, some information has been redacted by the exemption at section 38(1)(b) of FoISA, the personal data of a third party, as disclosing the personal data would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulations. This exemption is not subject to a public interest test. 

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest.

In that same minute, some information has been redacted under the exemption at section 30(b)of FoISA, free and frank provision of advice. The text has been redacted as it would be likely to inhibit substantially the free and frank  provision of advice were it released.  

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. We have, however, considered the public interest in disclosing the redacted information, and on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. 

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