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The Scottish Government have come under fire for a creeping tide of state secrecy.

Campaigners yesterday voiced concern at the way rules on the release of information are applied.

They said it was time an inquiry was set up at the Scottish Parliament to deal with the problem.

Twenty-three media organisations, including the Record, have already raised fears with MSPs that freedom of information laws are “under great doubt”.

Now members of the Open Government Network for Scotland, which includes charities, academics and unions, have penned a letter that ratchets up those concerns.

The legal process of gaining access to public information has become bogged down with breaches, long delays and “tenuous” knock-backs, campaigners warned.

(Image: PA)

Matthew Rice, Scotland director of the network’s Open Rights Group who penned the letter, said: “The Scottish Government’s record on freedom of information has fallen short of the standard they have set themselves.

“The Scottish Parliament recognised this with a motion criticising the Government’s record in June, which was voted for by MSPs from all parties.

“Whether the failure is a cultural problem or a legal one, post-legislative scrutiny is vital to begin to work towards the answer.

“Freedom of information is a cornerstone of democracy.

“Journalists, campaigners and members of the public have used it to hold their public institutions to account for years, with some of the most significant exposés in Britain, such as the MPs expenses scandal, coming from the simple idea of being able to ask a question of public institutions and get a clear answer.

“Now, the system is in need of a review to make sure it is fit for such a fundamental purpose.”

Ruchir Shah, of the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, said FOI was just the tip of the iceberg, adding: “In due course, this may merit a parliamentary inquiry into the transparency of Scotland’s institutions, building on an initial examination of FOI by the public audit and post-legislative scrutiny committee.”

In June, it emerged the Scottish Government’s response rate was below national average.

In the past year, around a third of requests ended with full disclosure. The average for all public sector bodies was 57 per cent.

Nicola Sturgeon’s Government also admitted political special advisers screen responses before they are released to the public.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay welcomed the intervention.

He said: “The Freedom of Information Act was brought in by a Labour government to ensure transparent and accountable government. Yet SNP ministers have made a mockery of the act, with special advisers screening FOIs before their release.”

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott also backed the campaigners’ calls.

He said: “There must be an independent inquiry into the lamentable performance of this Government who have been found out on FOI.

“If the SNP try to avoid anything short of a full independent inquiry, then people will know this a government entirely opposed to openness and transparency.”

The SNP Government recently announced they would start publishing responses to FOI online as they are released.

A spokesman said: “Scotland has the most open and far-reaching freedom of information laws in the UK. We work closely with the Open Government Network as part of the Open Government partnership.

“While this suggestion is one for the Scottish Parliament to consider, it is important to recognise that under this Government freedom of information has already been extended to include additional public bodies, to reduce the time period for access to national records from 30 years to 15 and that

significant amounts of material are now pro-actively published as part of our drive to improve transparency.”