Techscaler contract communications regarding international travel and the handling of complaints: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
This is in relation to your request entitled Techscaler Governance, asking for copies of all official and unofficial communications (including emails, meeting notes, briefing documents, Microsoft Teams chats, and informal messages such as Telegram, WhatsApp or Signal) that meet the criteria that you laid out between the 01/03/23 and 31/08/23.
Response
Please note that the request incorrectly states that Jon Hope is or has been employed by the Scottish Government. This is inaccurate, he does not and has not held positions in the Scottish Government. He has held Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, and Interim Chief Executive Officer roles within CodeBase, and any information held or provided here in relation to him is solely in his capacity as a CodeBase employee and in relevance to the delivery of the Techscaler programme.
In response to part A of you request, I enclose a copy of the information that you requested.
Some information falling within the scope of your request is also being disclosed to you in response to other FOI requests you have submitted: 202600511125 and 202600511127. In line with section 25(1) of FOISA (Information otherwise accessible), this information is not repeated here as it will be available to you.
While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, in this instance certain information has been redacted under the relevant sections of FOISA. More information on this can be found in the annex of this letter.
In response to part B of your request, we have not found any relevant communications. Scottish Government has not received any formal complaints related to the individuals named.
Officials of the Scottish Government are bound by the Ministerial Code. Subcontractors and those doing work on behalf of Scottish Government are expected to operate lawfully and under a code of conduct underpinned by principles of integrity, accountability and transparency.
Scottish Government takes very seriously allegations of mental or physical harm and expects all organisations receiving public funding to behave ethically and lawfully, to follow fair work practices, and to notify Ministers immediately if irregularities are suspected so that they can be investigated. Scottish Government might reassess, vary, withdraw or recover any funds provided, if a third party is considered to be likely to bring the reputation of the Scottish Ministers into disrepute.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG