David Black
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
5 April 2012
Our Ref: FOI 2012/83 – F0202191
Dear Mr Black,
Re: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information
Thank you for your email which was received by the University on 9 March 2012 timed 13:18
hours, requesting the following information:
“1. When was Robert Fraser (the Director of Finance) appointed to his current post?
2. What was his initial salary?
3. What is his current salary?
4. For each annual pay raise or bonus that he has been awarded since his appointment
I wish to know:
- When was the pay raise / bonus approved?
- Who approved the pay raise / bonus?
- What was the amount?
- Was the payment a pay raise or a bonus?
- What was the justification for the pay raise / bonus?”
University’s Response
When was Robert Fraser (the Director of Finance) appointed to his current post?
1st September 2004
What was his initial salary?
£90,001 - £100,000
What is his current salary?
£140,001 – £150,000
DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICE
Main Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
Data Protection: Telephone: 0141-330-3111
E-Mail: xx@xxx.xx.xx
Freedom of Information: Telephone: 0141-330-2523
E-Mail: foi@gla.ac.uk
The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401
For each annual pay raise or bonus that he has been awarded since his appointment I
wish to know:
- When was the pay raise / bonus approved?
- Who approved the pay raise / bonus?
- What was the amount?
- Was the payment a pay raise or a bonus?
- What was the justification for the pay raise / bonus?
Please see table below:
Amount of payment
Date
Approved by
Description of payment Justification of
Payment
payment
approved
£100,001 – £110,000
August 2005
Remuneration Increase to Annual
Performance
Committee
Salary
Related
£110,001 – £120,000
August 2006
Remuneration Increase to Annual
Performance
Committee
Salary
Related
£120,001 – £130,000
August 2007
Remuneration Increase to Annual
Performance
Committee
Salary
Related
£130,001 – £140,000
August 2008
Remuneration Increase to Annual
Performance
Committee
Salary
Related
£140,001 – £150,000
August 2009
Remuneration Increase to Annual
Applied in
Committee
Salary
accordance with
RPI related
increase of 5%
for all staff
£0 – £10,000
October 2009 Remuneration Performance Related
Performance
Committee
Payment
Related
Please note salary details for Robert Fraser have been released £10,000 bandings as: (a) the
individual salary information are considered as personal data as defined in the Data Protection
Act 1998 (“DPA”); and (b) the release of such salary information would be in breach of the
data protection principles as set-out in the Data Protection Act 1998. Therefore the exemption
from release of such information applies as specified under section 38(1)(b) and 38(2)(a)(i) of
FOISA. The University takes the view that disclosure of such personal data would breach the
following Data Protection Principles of the DPA:
Data Protection Principle 1:
Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully.
The release of the salary information on an individual basis, will undermine the expectation of
the individual that his/her personal data would not be released. In particular, the University
notes the decision of the Information Commissioner in the decision relating to
The University of Cambridge (30 July 2007), in which the Information Commissioner states that a key factor
to consider is whether there would be an expectation of disclosure.
2
Data Protection Principle 6:
Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects.
The release of personal data would not be in accordance with that individual’s rights to
privacy. If the data were disclosed, it would constitute processing for an unspecified purpose.
Data Protection Principle 7:
Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or
unlawful processing of personal data.
The release of personal data may breach the requirement to keep such personal data secure.
Data Protection Principle 8:
Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic
Area unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and
freedoms of data subjects.
The release of personal data may result in a real risk of his/her personal data being displayed
on the internet and thus viewable outside the EEA.
Pursuant to Sections 38(1)(b) and 38(2)(a)(i) of FOISA there is an absolute exemption if the
disclosure would breach any of the Data Protection Principles of the DPA. For the purpose of
this exemption alone, the University is not obliged to consider the public interest.
The supply of documents under the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
does not give the applicant or whoever receives the information any right to re-use it in such a
way that might infringe the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (for example, by making
multiple copies, publishing or otherwise distributing the information to other individuals and the
public). The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential Modifications) Order
2004 ensured that Section 50 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (“CDPA”)
applies to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”).
Breach of copyright law is an actionable offence and the University expressly reserves its
rights and remedies available to it pursuant to the CDPA and common law. Further information
on copyright is available at the following website:
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/copy.htm
Your right to seek a review
Should you be dissatisfied with the way in which the University has dealt with your request,
you have the right to require us to review our actions and decisions. If you wish to request a
review, please contact the University Secretary, University Court Office, Gilbert Scott Building,
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland G12 8QQ or e-mail: xxx@xxx.xx.xx
within 40
working days. Your request must be in a recordable format (letter, email, audio tape, etc). You
will receive a full response to your request for review within 20 working days of its receipt.
3
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have handled your request for review you may
ask the Scottish Information Commissioner to review our decision. You must submit your
complaint in writing to the Commissioner within 6 months of receiving the response to review
letter. The Commissioner may be contacted as follows:
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: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxx
An appeal, on a point of law, to the Court of Session may be made against a decision by the
Commissioner.
For further information on the review procedure please refer to
(http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/dpfoioffice/policiesandprocedures/foisa-complaintsandreview/ )
All complaints regarding requests for information will be handled in accordance with this
procedure.
Yours sincerely,
Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office
4