[FOI #10200 email]]

Our Ref: FoI/09/00474

05 May 2009

Dear Mr Smith

Thank for your request of 5^th April 2009 for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

While we endeavour to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, given that the Scottish Government fills approximately 400 posts in any given year, the task of locating and providing the information requested on numbers of successful interview candidates who have deferred taking up a post over the last 3 years would involve a significant trawl of recruitment and new entrant files and would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. Under section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the costs of complying exceeds the upper cost limit.

In regards to your question on how long the Scottish Government would be willing to allow someone to defer taking up a post, the Scottish Government has no stipulated upper limit on this.

If you are unhappy with this response to your request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review, by writing to Ms Stella Manzie, Area 3-D93, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Your request should explain why you wish a review to be carried out, and should be made within 40 working days of receipt of this letter, and we will reply within 20 working days of receipt. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to make a formal complaint to the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Yours Sincerely

Linda Bowman

Service Delivery Manager