Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
FOI reference: FOI/202100252837
Date received: 4 Nov 2021
Date responded: 3 Dec 2021
Information requested
Correspondence (including letters, emails, phone calls, briefing and/or otherwise) between the Social Security Scotland Executive Team and the Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison MSP or any of her directorate regarding recruitment of staff at Social Security Scotland. You asked for this information over the last six months.
Response
Attached is a copy of the information falling within the scope of your request. An exemption under section 30(c) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 is considered to apply to paragraph 5.3.2 in the attached document. The reason for this is that we consider the release of this information would otherwise prejudice substantially, or be likely to prejudice substantially, the effective conduct of public affairs.
The below details the information we hold and describes which exemption (if any) is applied.
Social Security Briefing for New Ministers
This document was a briefing for the Cabinet Secretary on Social Security Scotland. Information removed is not within scope. Exemption 30(c) is applied to section 5.3.2. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the recruitment process and ensuring that the Scottish Government is able conduct this aspect of its business effectively.
Reply from Social Security Scotland to Letter from Social Justice and Social Security Committee
This is correspondence between the Chief Executive and the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. This document was copied to the Cabinet Secretary for information. It can be found at the following address: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-andprevious-committees/session-6-social-justice-and-social-securitycommittee/correspondence/2021/social-security-scotland-key-priorities
About FOI
Social Security Scotland is committed to publishing its response to requests. The Scottish Government also publishes responses to requests. You can view the responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
FOI202100252837 Information released