Robert Fraser's Relocation Expenses

Craig Halliday made this Freedom of Information request to University of Glasgow

The request was refused by University of Glasgow.

From: Craig Halliday

17 April 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

Can you please tell me the total of relocation expenses paid to
your director of finance Robert Fraser since his appointment.

Can you please tell me the headings and amounts under which this
total amount was paid i.e. removal expenses, legal fees etc

Can you please tell me the normal maximum amount that Glasgow
University is prepared to pay in relocation expenses.

If your policy on relocation expenses is on your website can you
please send me a link to this part of your website otherwise can
you please send me a copy of the policy

Can you please tell me how many times the normal maximum amount for
relocation expenses has been exceeded since October 2003, what the
actual amount paid has been and when it was authorised and when it
was paid. Can you please also tell me in each case how the decision
to pay in excess of the normal maximum amount was taken and who
authorised it.

Yours faithfully,

Craig Halliday

Link to this

From: FOI Office
University of Glasgow

17 April 2009

Attachment F0057350 Acknowledgement.pdf
28K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Halliday,

Further to your Freedom of Information request dated 17 April 2009 timed
08:16 hours. Please find letter of acknowledgement attached.

You will find that the University's acknowledgement of your information
request is in PDF (Portable Document Format) file(s) attached to this
email.

The PDF file format is used for electronic distribution because it
preserves the look and feel of the original document complete with
fonts, colours, images, and layout. To open a PDF file you can download
a free program called Acrobat Reader and install it onto your computer
by clicking on to the following URL:

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/...

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office

Direct Line: +44 (0)141 330 2523
Fax: 0141 330 4920

Gilbert Scott Building
University of Glasgow
University Avenue
Glasgow G12 8QQ
G12 8QQ

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Link to this

From: FOI Office
University of Glasgow

14 May 2009

Attachment RESPONSE F0057350.pdf
29K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Halliday,

Please find attached the University's response to your Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002 request dated 17 April 2009 timed 08:16
hours.

You will find that the University's response to your information request
is in PDF (Portable Document Format) file(s) attached to this email.

The PDF file format is used for electronic distribution because it
preserves the look and feel of the original document complete with
fonts, colours, images, and layout. To open a PDF file you can download
a free program called Acrobat Reader and install it onto your computer
by clicking on to the following URL:

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/...

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office

Direct Line: +44 (0)141 330 2523
Fax: 0141 330 4920

Gilbert Scott Building
University of Glasgow
University Avenue
Glasgow G12 8QQ
G12 8QQ

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Link to this

From: Craig Halliday

16 May 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of University of
Glasgow's handling of my FOI request 'Robert Fraser's Relocation
Expenses'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ro...

In considering my appeal I would ask you to take full heed of the
fact that HM Government is now intending to release full details of
expenses of members of parliament. Therefore if you still consider
that this information is covered by data protection can you please
tell me where in data protection law it is stated that university
administrators are entitled to more data protection than MPs.

Can you also please explain to me why it would cost more than 600
pounds to get me the information in relation to question 5. I can't
believe that so many people have actually received relocation
expenses. Is it not just a matter of looking at the list of people
who have received these expenses, then looking at your PAYE records
(which you are required to keep by the Inland Revenue) and then
writing out a list. I wouldn't have thought that it would take a
junior member of staff more than half a day. can you please explain
to me in detail how you arrived at your estimate?

I feel very strongly about transparency in these matters,
particularly in the light of the awful revelations in the Telegraph
this week and unless I am completely convinced by your reasons for
not disclosing ANY of the information that I was seeking I will
definitely appeal to Kevin Dunion in the event that you uphold the
original decision.

Yours sincerely,

Craig Halliday

Link to this

John left an annotation (16 May 2009)

What are they trying to hide? If its ok for MPs expenses to be made public why not uni adminstrators especially very senior people?

Link to this

From: FOI Office
University of Glasgow

18 May 2009

Attachment Acknowledgement F0059800.pdf
26K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Halliday,

Further to your Freedom of Information Request for a Review dated 16 May
2009 timed 19:27 hours. Please find letter of acknowledgement attached.
You will find that the University's acknowledgement of your Request for
a Review is in PDF (Portable Document Format) file(s) attached to this
email.

The PDF file format is used for electronic distribution because it
preserves the look and feel of the original document complete with
fonts, colours, images, and layout. To open a PDF file you can download
a free program called Acrobat Reader and install it onto your computer
by clicking on to the following URL:

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/...

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office

Direct Line: +44 (0)141 330 2523
Fax: 0141 330 4920

Gilbert Scott Building
University of Glasgow
University Avenue
Glasgow G12 8QQ
G12 8QQ

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Link to this

Helen Paterson left an annotation (19 May 2009)

The University has published, in a number of occasions, Dr Kevin Cullen’s travel expenses, for example see:

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/in...

Why double standards?

Helen

Link to this

William Armstrong left an annotation (22 May 2009)

What are they trying to hide? What on earth is going on here? Isn't this our money? Loads of information about Mr Cullen's expenses, loads of information about Sir Muir Russell's expenses but nothing about Mr Fraser's expenses? Why?

Link to this

Alex Skene left an annotation ( 1 June 2009)

Apologies, this FOI request is currently attracting spam emails, because the address used for the request is in one of the PDF attachments. The WhatDoTheyKnow team are tracking all replies to this request, and will remove all spam received as soon as possible after they are detected. When the Internal Review for this request is complete, the FOI will be blocked from receiving any further emails.

Thanks
Alex

Link to this

John left an annotation ( 6 June 2009)

I have to say Craig I wouldn't be overly optimistic about the chances of your getting any information on Robert Fraser's Relocation Expenses as a result of the review.

I had a quick look at the reviews that Glasgow University has previously carried out and they all seem to be done by either Anne B Mitchell or Graeme Paterson. They never seem to disagree with the original decision. Both appear to work in the Court Office where presumably the original decision was taken.

You would have thought in an organisation that employs thousands of people at public expense they could spread the net a little wider. Wouldn't it look more objective and independent if they asked an academic staff member to do it, someone who was in a completely different part of the University from the Court Office? I would have thought that it might have been useful development for someone in the Law Dept to actually rule on something in the real world.

Bet you anything the review is carried out by Anne B Mitchell or Graeme Paterson!!!

Link to this

From: FOI Reviews
University of Glasgow

16 June 2009

Attachment FOI craig halliday 160609.pdf
27K Download View as HTML

Please find attached the University's response to your request for a
review.

<<FOI craig halliday 160609.pdf>>

Link to this

Craig Halliday left an annotation (16 June 2009)

No big surprise, yet another appeal which confirms the original decision yet makes no attempt to explain why its ok to release masses of information about Mr Cullen but none at all about Mr Fraser.

It doesn't end here.

Link to this

From: FOI Office
University of Glasgow

21 July 2009

Attachment Correction to Review decision.pdf
24K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Halliday,

Please find attached the University's amended response to your Freedom
of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 review.

You will find that the University's response to your information
requestis in PDF (Portable Document Format) file(s) attached to this
email.

The PDF file format is used for electronic distribution because it
preserves the look and feel of the original document complete with
fonts, colours, images, and layout. To open a PDF file you can download
a free program called Acrobat Reader and install it onto your computer
by clicking on to the following URL:

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/...

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office

Direct Line: +44 (0)141 330 2523
Fax: 0141 330 4920

Gilbert Scott Building
University of Glasgow
University Avenue
Glasgow G12 8QQ
G12 8QQ

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
University of Glasgow only: