Scottish secretary's 'bias' over FOI snub to Labour man

SCOTTISH Secretary Michael Moore has been accused of turning down a freedom of information request because of the political affiliation of the person who made it.

An official complaint has piled more pressure on the under-fire Mr Moore after claims earlier this week that he is to be asked to attend the Commons procedure committee over complaints that he is not answering MPs' questions properly.

Scottish Labour's general secretary Colin Smyth has made a formal complaint to Information Commissioner Christopher Graham after a request for details on correspondence, discussions and meetings between Mr Moore and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg over the clash of the Holyrood election and alternative vote referendum next year was rejected.

The basis of the complaint is a briefing document sent to Mr Moore from a civil servant on answering the question from Gordon Aikman. The briefing paper was accidentally forwarded to Mr Aikman instead of the answer. In the opening sentence, the document reminds the minister that Mr Aikman is "a Labour Party researcher".

Mr Smyth said the identity and political affiliation of the person making the request was irrelevant and not a legal ground to refuse it. He has questioned why Mr Aikman's job and political affiliation were included in the briefing document and suggested that it was the real reason for the refusal.

A Labour spokesman said: "This is an extraordinary admission from the Scotland Office. It is outrageous to use someone's political views as the basis of deciding whether information should be released or kept secret."

A Scotland Office spokesman said: "The decision was made on advice received by the Cabinet Office and in accordance with the correct procedure. The identity of the person making the request was in no way a factor in the decision-making process. "