Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/02018
Date received: 2 September 2017
Date responded: 13 September 2017

Information requested

You asked in relation to the Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality, Naomi Eisenstadt;

"Why did Naomi Eisenstadt quit her job as Poverty Advisor?"

"What contract to work with the Scottish government was she given when she took this position, and what was her salary and pension rights?".

Response

Ms Eisenstadt was a direct appointment by the First Minister and was initially appointed from 23 June 2015 until 31 March 2016. The First Minister then reappointed Ms Eisenstadt from 1 July 2016 to 31 July 2017. Ms Eisenstadt indicated at the start of her 2nd year that she only wished to serve one further year in post. The Independent Advisor role was not eligible for a pension and was remunerated at a day rate in line with the Public Sector Pay Policy for Senior Appointments Chairs and Members fee framework.

Given the manifesto commitment to establish a Poverty and Inequality Commission it was deemed that the independent advice role previously undertaken by Ms Eisenstadt would be incorporated into the wider remit of the Commission.

Ms Eisenstadt has become the Deputy chair of the Commission and will continue to provide valuable advice to the Scottish Government.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to that information. The reason why that exemption applies is explained in the Annex to this letter.

Reasons for not providing information

An exemption applies.

Section 38(1)(b) – applicant has asked for personal data of a third party.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is the personal data of a third party, i.e. the Independent Advisors specific salary is her own personal information, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998.

This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

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