Local Authority reports from Scottish National Standardised Assesments system: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/02744  
Date received: 30 September 2018
Date responded: 29 October 2018

 

 

You asked: “An email with the subject line “Local Authority SNSA Reports” Graeme Logan advised councils that the government is now able to provide them with “Local Authority reports” from the SNSA system. He states that an “attached paper outlines the various reports” that they would receive. I would like you to release this paper to me.”

 

 

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 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies. The reason why this exemption applies is explained below.

As a point of clarification the local authority reports were developed and provided directly to local authorities by the SNSA contractor, ACER International UK, not by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government has not received copies of the local authority reports.

I have attached a PDF file with all of the available information.

 

 

Exemptions applied to the information you requested.

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the contractor who has delivered the SNSA system.

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 and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies which enter into Scottish Government contracts, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

 

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses athttp://www.gov.scot/foi-responses