Costs of Freedom
Alex Neil - MSP for Central Scotland - has entered the debate about South Lanarkshire Council's atttitude towards Freedom of Information - and has issued the following press release:
"Alex Neil MSP has hit out at South Lanarkshire Council for refusing to release information relating to the pay grades of 'traditional' male jobs within the Council.
Mark Irvine from equal pay campaign group, Action 4 Equality Scotland, has been locked in a Freedom of Information challenge with the authority since May last year.
SLC initially refused to release the information on privacy grounds and then said it would cost more than £600 to compile, making it exempt from the FoI legislation. Mr Irvine has now taken the issue to Scotland's Information Commissioner to rule on the dispute.
Mr Neil said:
"I am concerned to know why South Lanarkshire Council are fighting so hard to keep this information secret.
"Simply publishing the pay scales of a few of the traditionally male dominated jobs in the Council would not infringe on privacy and certainly would not cost more than £600 to compile.
"It is openness and transparency that is being sought here, not an invasion of privacy.
"I would predict that it has cost the Council more than £600 to dispute the FoI request.
"I can't see why SLC would be so keen to withhold this information if they are standing by their commitment to equal pay and fair treatment."
ENDS
Alex Neil's comments are spot on - because the council has clearly spent much more time, effort and money denying my FOI request - that it would have cost to release the information in the first place.
And this is information that should be in the public domain anyway - as it is in every other council in Scotland.
If any South Lanarkshire readers would like to contact Alex Neil his e-mail address is: Alex.Neil.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
"Alex Neil MSP has hit out at South Lanarkshire Council for refusing to release information relating to the pay grades of 'traditional' male jobs within the Council.
Mark Irvine from equal pay campaign group, Action 4 Equality Scotland, has been locked in a Freedom of Information challenge with the authority since May last year.
SLC initially refused to release the information on privacy grounds and then said it would cost more than £600 to compile, making it exempt from the FoI legislation. Mr Irvine has now taken the issue to Scotland's Information Commissioner to rule on the dispute.
Mr Neil said:
"I am concerned to know why South Lanarkshire Council are fighting so hard to keep this information secret.
"Simply publishing the pay scales of a few of the traditionally male dominated jobs in the Council would not infringe on privacy and certainly would not cost more than £600 to compile.
"It is openness and transparency that is being sought here, not an invasion of privacy.
"I would predict that it has cost the Council more than £600 to dispute the FoI request.
"I can't see why SLC would be so keen to withhold this information if they are standing by their commitment to equal pay and fair treatment."
ENDS
Alex Neil's comments are spot on - because the council has clearly spent much more time, effort and money denying my FOI request - that it would have cost to release the information in the first place.
And this is information that should be in the public domain anyway - as it is in every other council in Scotland.
If any South Lanarkshire readers would like to contact Alex Neil his e-mail address is: Alex.Neil.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
