Resignation of chairman of Redress Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

1. All correspondence (including emails, phone calls and whatsapps) between the Scottish Government, Redress Scotland and Johnny Gwynne regarding his resignation as chairman of Redress Scotland.
2. How much money has Mr Gwynne been paid so far for his role as chairman?
3. Is he expected to get compensation/severance payment for his role? How much is this going to be?
4. What is the process for replacing him as chairman?

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. I will respond to your request in the order it was made.

1. Please find attached a copy of the information which is within the scope of your request.
   
   An exemption under section 38 (1) (b) (Personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the email communications provided to you, because they contain the personal contact details of some Scottish Government and Redress Scotland staff.
   
   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.
2. We only hold information within the scope of your request from 28 June 2021, when Mr Gwynne was appointed, until 31 December 2021. During this time, Mr Gwynne was paid fees of £34,193.60, for time devoted to performing his duties as Chair of Redress Scotland. After this time, Redress Scotland took full responsibility for managing its own resources. Although the Scottish Government does not hold all of the information you have requested, you may wish to contact Redress Scotland at information@redress.scot who may be able to help you.
3. There is no compensation or severance entitlement for the Chair role, therefore no payment has or will be made.
4. Currently, Scottish Ministers have appointed Bill Matthews (Deputy Chair) as the Interim Chair of Redress Scotland until such times as a new permanent Chair is appointed.
   
   The Chair role will be publicly advertised by the Scottish Government in the next few weeks. Redress Scotland is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body, and the Chair is a public appointment, made by Scottish Ministers. The process will be open and transparent and follow the principles of the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland, namely:
   
   Merit – the appointment will be made on merit and only persons judged best able to meet the requirements of the role will be appointed.
   Integrity – the appointments process will be open, fair and impartial.
   Diversity and Equality – the appointment will be advertised publicly in a way that will attract a strong and diverse field of suitable candidates.
   
   Once the appointment round is concluded, a recommended candidate requires the approval of Scottish Ministers before the appointment is confirmed.

About FOI

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

FOI - 202300347330 - Information release

File type

31 page PDF

File size

811.0 kB