LABOUR are demanding an investigation into SNP government secrecy in the wake of a damning report into how ministers mishandled freedom of information requests.
The Scottish Information Commissioner revealed last week that ministers had run a secret two-tier FoI system, making it harder for those most likely to embarrass them.
Requests from the media, MSPs and their researchers faced extra scrutiny, despite the law saying the FoI process should be blind, and each request judged solely on its merits.
The government last week accepted the Commissioner’s report in full and agreed to overhaul its procedure to stop taking into account the identity of requesters.
Ahead of a Holyrood debate on transparency tomorrow, Labour will ask MSPs to back “an independent review of both FoI handling and the recording of information from meetings”.
MSP Rhoda Grant said: “The Scottish Information Commissioner’s damning report reveals repeated attempts by the SNP government to bury bad news.
“Not only was the clearance process different, but there is some evidence that information was suppressed in answer to these journalists’ requests.
“The SNP has so far failed to recognise the seriousness of this unacceptable behaviour and properly take responsibility for it.
“That is why Scottish Labour is demanding a full investigation into the SNP's handling of FOI requests.
“Anything less would only show that the SNP government simply cannot be trusted.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Liberal Democrats demanded that FoI should be extended to big private contractors delivering public services.
MSP Tavish Scott said ScotRail and the failed contractor Carillion were examples of companies where was a clear public interest in greater transparency.
A survey by the Scottish Information Commissioner found four-fifths of Scots thought organisations building and maintaining schools and hospitals should be subject to FoI.
The government currently spends around £11bn a year procuring public services.
Mr Scott said: “The public are left with little recourse to uncover how taxpayers' money is being spent and what level of performance is being achieved.
“They want to know whether the contractors maintaining our roads or running our railways and prisons are doing a good job.
"Some of these firms are vast behemoths handling as much public money as a government department or council, so this is a crucial step to making these firms accountable."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland already has the most open, far-reaching freedom of information laws in the UK – we are working to widen the coverage even further and welcome all suggestions as to how that can be done.
“Legislation has previously been expanded to a range of arm’s-length-organisations providing cultural, leisure and sporting services on behalf of local authorities, private prison contractors, providers of secure accommodation to children and young people, and grant-aided and independent special schools.
"An order to extend FOISA to Registered Social Landlords is currently under consideration.
“We will continue to assess options to further expand coverage, and whether other private companies exercising public functions should be brought within scope.”
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