Decision 029/2023: Penalty Charges for parking offences – failure to respond
Authority: Transport Scotland
Case Ref: 202300215
Summary
The Applicant asked the Authority for information about Penalty Charges for parking offences. This decision finds that the Authority failed to respond to the request within the timescale allowed by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). The decision also finds that the Authority failed to comply with the Applicant’s requirement for review within the timescale set down by FOISA.
Background
1. The Applicant made an information request to the Authority on 11 October 2022.
2. The Authority responded to the information request on 19 December 2022. The Authority apologised that it had not responded within the 20-working day limit.
3. On 20 December 2022, the Applicant wrote to the Authority requiring a review of its decision.
4. The Applicant did not receive a response to its requirement for review.
5. On 16 February 2023 the Applicant wrote to the Commissioner, stating that it was dissatisfied with the Authority’s failure to respond and applying to the Commissioner for a decision in terms of section 47(1) of FOISA.
6. The Commissioner determined that the application complied with section 47(2) of FOISA and that he had the power to carry out an investigation.
Investigation
7. Section 49(3)(a) of FOISA requires the Commissioner to notify public authorities of an application and to give them an opportunity to comment. The Commissioner did this on 20 February 2023.
8. The Commissioner received submissions from the Authority. These submissions are considered below.
9. The Authority attributed the failure to respond to staff shortages.
10. Section 10(1) of FOISA gives Scottish public authorities a maximum of 20 working days following the date of receipt of the request to comply with a request for information. This is subject to qualifications which are not relevant in this case.
11. It is a matter of fact that the Authority did not provide a response to the Applicant’s request for information within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that it failed to comply with section 10(1) of FOISA.
12. Section 21(1) of FOISA gives Scottish public authorities a maximum of 20 working days following the date of receipt of the requirement to comply with a requirement for review. Again, this is subject to qualifications which are not relevant in this case.
13. It is a matter of fact that the Authority did not provide a response to the Applicant’s requirement for review within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that it failed to comply with section 21(1) of FOISA.
14. The remainder of section 21 sets out the requirements to be followed by a Scottish public authority in carrying out a review. As no review has been carried out in this case, the Commissioner finds that the Authority failed to discharge these requirements: he now requires a review to be carried out in accordance with section 21.
15. The Commissioner recommends that the Authority considers whether it would be appropriate to apologise to the Applicant for its failure to comply.
Decision
The Commissioner finds that the Authority failed to comply with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) in dealing with the information request made by the Applicant. In particular, the Authority failed to respond to the Applicant’s request for information and requirement for review within the timescales laid down by sections 10(1) and 21(1) of FOISA. The Commissioner requires the Authority to issue a response to the Applicant’s requirement for review, by 11 May 2023.
Appeal
Should either the Applicant or the Authority wish to appeal against this decision, they have the right to appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law only. Any such appeal must be made within 42 days after the date of intimation of this decision.
Enforcement
If the Authority fails to comply with this decision, the Commissioner has the right to certify to the Court of Session that the Authority has failed to comply. The Court has the right to inquire into the matter and may deal with the Authority as if it had committed a contempt of court.
Colin MacFadyen
(Acting) Deputy Head of Enforcement
27 March 2023
