Dear Mr MacAskill

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: 2008 - 013289

Thank you for your request, which we received on 4^th August and which you clarified on 19^th August, for a breakdown of each expense type incurred by Iain Gray MSP under each allowance heading for the financial years 1999 to 2003 and from May 2007 to date of your request. Your request has been handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I apologise for the delay in responding.

The information requested in relation to the financial years 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 is not held having been destroyed in accordance with our records retention policy. We therefore regret we cannot provide it to you.

With regard to the information sought in respect of the financial years 2001/2002 to 2003/2004 and the months of July and August 2008 is enclosed. Some of the information you requested is exempt information under Section 38 of the Act and will not be disclosed. The reason for withholding this information is set out in the enclosed refusal notice.

With regard to the information sought in respect of the period May 2007 to 31/12/2007 all the information we would disclose is exempt information under Section 25 of the Act and will not be disclosed because this information is available on the Scottish Parliament's website and as such is otherwise available. The reason for withholding this information is set out in the refusal notice enclosed.

In terms of the information requested for the period 01/01/2008 to 30/06/2008 it is our intention to publish all the information we would disclose within 12 weeks as part of the Parliament's allowance publication scheme. The information you requested is, therefore, exempt information under Section 27 of the Act and will not be disclosed. The reason for this is set out in the refusal notice enclosed.

We would welcome feedback or comment on how we handled your request. Please feel free to contact the FOI Specialist at The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP or by e-mail at [Scottish Parliament request email]

Please find below Annex A, which explains how we handle FOI requests and reviews.

Yours sincerely

Jackie Giulianotti

Head of Allowance

Annex A

REQUESTS MADE UNDER

THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

How we handle FOI requests

Information on how we handle FOI requests is available on the Parliament's website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/foi

Alternatively, please contact the Parliament's Public Information Service to request a copy.

Review

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request for information, you can ask us to review our decision and actions. You must do this in writing (or other permanent form) within 40 working days of the date of this letter, stating the reasons for your dissatisfaction, and we will respond within 20 working days of receipt. A request for a review should be made to the FOI Specialist:

Post: FOI Specialist

The Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh

EH99 1SP

Telephone: 0131 348 6913 (RNID Typetalk calls welcome)

Textphone: 0131 348 3415

Fax: 0131 348 5378

E-mail: [Scottish Parliament request email]

Application to the Scottish Information Commissioner

If, on the outcome of any review, you are still dissatisfied, or if we are unable to resolve any other complaint, then you can contact the Scottish Information Commissioner:

Post: The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Telephone: 01334 464610

Fax: 01334 464611

Website: www.itspublicknowledge.info

E-mail: [email address]

A decision by the Scottish Information Commissioner may be appealed, on a point of law, to the Court of Session.

Copyright in relation to information provided

The supply of information under FOI does not constitute permission for its use in a way that would infringe copyright. You should obtain permission from the copyholder before any such use.

Feedback or comment

We would welcome feedback or comment on how we handled your request. Please contact the FOI Specialist.

Complaints

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we dealt with your enquiry, then you may wish to raise the matter with the FOI Specialist.

How to contact us

Post: The Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh

EH99 1SP

Telephone: 0845 278 1999 (Local Rate)

0131 348 5000 (RNID Typetalk calls welcome)

Textphone: 0845 270 0152

Fax: 0131 348 5601

E-mail: [email address]