Information request handling: annual report 2017

2017 Annual Report on the handling of information requests made to the Scottish Government under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.


Internal reviews

Background

Where an applicant is dissatisfied with the way in which the Scottish Government has dealt with a request for information they may ask us to carry out an internal review. Of the requests received, only 9% resulted in an internal review being requested.

Number of review requests received

In total, 267 reviews were received by the Scottish Government in 2017. 222 review requests were made under FOISA and 45 were made under the EIRs.

Reviews Total
Director-General Constitution and External Affairs 21
Director-General Economy 82
Director-General Education, Communities and Justice 67
Director-General Health & Social Care 47
Director-General Organisational Development and Operations 27
Director-General Scottish Exchequer 7
Ministerial Private Offices 16
Total 267

Composition of applicants 

The following graph breaks down the source of requests for an internal review.

Pie Chart: Composition of applicants

Performance

The majority (67%) of all requests for review received in 2017 were responded to on time. Of the 267 reviews received, 177 were answered on time, 89 were late and 1 was withdrawn.

Reviews On Time Late
Director-General Constitution and External Affairs 16 4
Director-General Economy 60 22
Director-General Education, Communities and Justice 56 11
Director-General Health & Social Care 7 40
Director-General Organisational Development and Operations 22 5
Director-General Scottish Exchequer 7 0
Ministerial Private Offices 9 7
Total 177 89

Outcome of reviews

The following graph sets out the outcome of requests for an internal review. The initial decision was upheld or partially upheld in 69% of cases.

Bar Chart: Outcome of reviews

Contact

Email: foi@gov.scot

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