The Court of Session in Edinburgh reprimanded the Scottish Government for repeatedly missing deadlines to disclose information regarding Alex Salmond files [1].

This rebuke highlights a significant tension between the administration and transparency regulators. The failure to adhere to court-ordered dates suggests a systemic struggle or reluctance to release sensitive political documents, potentially undermining public trust in the Freedom of Information process.

The dispute centered on a Freedom of Information request for materials related to Alex Salmond [1]. Despite previous court orders to release the information, the Scottish Government failed to meet the required deadlines [2].

In its judgment, the court said the government's conduct was "a lack of proper respect for the Information Commissioner" [1]. The court said that the repeated delays were an affront to the authority of the regulator tasked with ensuring government transparency [3].

Reports on the legal finding vary regarding the severity of the ruling. Some accounts state the court reprimanded the government [1], while others report the Scottish Government was found in contempt of court [3].

Regardless of the specific legal classification, the court said the administration's behavior was unacceptable. The ruling serves as a formal warning that the government cannot ignore the timelines set by the judiciary or the Information Commissioner [2].

The Scottish Government has not provided a public justification for the repeated delays in this specific instance [1]. The court's decision underscores the legal obligation of ministers to comply with transparency laws, even when the requested files involve high-profile political figures [3].

“a lack of proper respect for the Information Commissioner”

This ruling signals a judicial insistence on government accountability regardless of political sensitivity. By rebuking the Scottish Government, the Court of Session is reinforcing the power of the Information Commissioner and ensuring that Freedom of Information requests are not indefinitely stalled by administrative delays.