A Scotland-wide Data Linkage Framework for Statistics and Research: Consultation Paper on the Aims and Guiding Principles

5. How to respond

We invite responses to this consultation paper by 15 June 2012. Responses to this consultation are welcome from any individual or organisation with an interest. The following have been invited to respond:

Various individuals
Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland
Association of Directors of Social Work
BCS: The Chartered Institute for IT
Big Brother Watch
British Medical Association
British Security Industry Association
Caldicott Guardians
Care Inspectorate
Chi Advisory Committee
Community Planning Partnerships
Consumer Focus Scotland
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Department for Work and Pensions
Economic and Social Research Council
Equalities and Human Rights Commission
Equality Network
Experian
HM Revenues and Customs
Improvement Service
Information Commissioner's Office
Liberty
Local Authority Chief Executives
Local Authority Research and Information Association
Medical Research Council
MRC|CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit
National Institute for Social Care and Health Research
NHS Chief Executives
No2ID
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Office for National Statistics
Pan-Lothian Data Sharing Partnership
Privacy International
Public Health Directors
Records of Scotland
Royal College of GPs
Royal College of Nursing
Royal Statistical Society
Scottish Centre for Social Research
Scottish Children's Reporters Administration
Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy
Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations
Scottish Human Rights Commission
Scottish Longitudinal Studies Centre
Scottish Members of European Parliament
Scottish Privacy Forum
SHIP Management Board and International Advisory Board
Wellcome Trust
Welsh Assembly Government

Please send your completed response form (in annex E) to

datalinkageconsultation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Or

If you have any queries about how to reply, or require a copy of this paper in an alternative format, please contact Andrew Paterson on 0131 244 3341 or e-mail datalinkageconsultation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Handling your response

We need to know how you wish to your response to be handled and, in particular, whether you are happy for your response to be made public. Please complete and return the Respondent Information Form, which can be found at Annex E, as this will ensure that we treat your response appropriately. If you ask for your response not to be published, we will regard it as confidential and treat it accordingly. All respondents should be aware that the Scottish Government are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore have to consider any request made to it under the Act, for information relating to responses made to this consultation exercise.

Copies of all the written responses received to a consultation exercise (except those where the individual or organisation requested confidentiality) are placed in the Scottish Government library at Saughton House, Edinburgh (K Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD, telephone 0131 244 4565).

All Scottish Government consultation papers and related publications (e.g. analysis of response reports) can be accessed at: Scottish Government consultations (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations).

The views and suggestions detailed in consultation responses are analysed and used as part of the decision making process, along with a range of other available information and evidence. Final decisions on the issues under consideration will also take account of a range of other factors, including other available information and research evidence. While details of particular circumstances described in a response to a consultation exercise may usefully inform the policy process, consultation exercises cannot address individual concerns and comments, which should be directed to the relevant public body.