Annual Accounts 2011/12

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, National Museums of Scotland should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Matthew C Blewitt

Dear National Museums of Scotland,

In the Annual Accounts 2011/12 it is stated that the initial review into these “cash withdrawals” didn’t imply a “weakness in the system of internal controls.” Is this still the case or have any “broader underlying control weaknesses” been identified at all?

David Spilsbury became interim Director of Finance & Planning in October 2012 replacing Andrew Patience who had been in position for over 5 years, also the Head of Finance, who also had over 5 years service & reported into Mr Patience, is no longer employed at NMS. Are these changes in personnel linked to the “cash withdrawals” in any way?

Yours faithfully,

Mr M C Blewitt

FOI_Request, National Museums of Scotland

Information Services
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF

Mr M C Blewitt
[FOI #149218 email]

11 February 2013

Dear Mr Blewitt

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act – Request Number 1397

Thank you for your interest in National Museums Scotland.

We have received your request for information, made under the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, as follows:

In the Annual Accounts 2011/12 it is stated that the initial review
into these “cash withdrawals” didn’t imply a “weakness in the
system of internal controls.” Is this still the case or have any
“broader underlying control weaknesses” been identified at all?

David Spilsbury became interim Director of Finance & Planning in
October 2012 replacing Andrew Patience who had been in position for
over 5 years, also the Head of Finance, who also had over 5 years
service & reported into Mr Patience, is no longer employed at NMS.
Are these changes in personnel linked to the “cash withdrawals” in
any way?

We are currently working on your enquiry and will respond by 11 March 2013.

Yours sincerely,

Dawn Lindsay
Information/Knowledge Manager

1. Your Right to Review

If you are not satisfied with our response to your request for information, you have forty working days from the date of this letter in which to request a review of our decision. Any request should be made to:

Head of Information Services
National Museums Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Tel: 0131 247 4447
Email: [email address]

and should detail:

your request for a review of our decision to be undertaken;

the nature of your original request; and

explain the reasons why you are dissatisfied with our response to your request.

Guidance on your right to seek a review of a Scottish public authority’s decision is available at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website, the address of which is set out below.

2. Your Right to Appeal

If you remain dissatisfied with how your request for information has been dealt with, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether we have handled your request for information properly.

Information relating to your right to seek review is available from the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website, at: www.itspublicknowledge.info or by contacting the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Office by telephone on +44 (0)1334 464 610 (St Andrews).

Vikings! Discover their untold story in a new exhibition of treasures. National Museum of Scotland, 18 January 12 May. Book now
www.nms.ac.uk/vikings

National Museums Scotland, Scottish Charity, No. SC 011130
This communication is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you are not the addressee please inform the sender and delete the email from your system. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of National Museums Scotland. This message is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998 and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. No liability is accepted for any harm that may be caused to your systems or data by this message.

[ WhatDoTheyKnow note: The above text was badly encoded, and has had strange characters removed. ]

Dear FOI_Request,

Many thanks

Yours sincerely,

Matthew C Blewitt

FOI_Request, National Museums of Scotland

Information Services
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF

Matthew C Blewitt
[FOI #149218 email]

7 March 2013

Dear Mr Blewitt

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act – Request Number 1397

Thank you for your interest in National Museums Scotland.

You made the following requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act:

1. In the Annual Accounts 2011/12 it is stated that the initial review into these “cash withdrawals” didn’t imply a “weakness in the system of internal controls.” Is this still the case or have any “broader underlying control weaknesses” been identified at all?

2. David Spilsbury became interim Director of Finance & Planning in October 2012 replacing Andrew Patience who had been in position for over 5 years, also the Head of Finance, who also had over 5 years service & reported into Mr Patience, is no longer employed at NMS. Are these changes in personnel linked to the “cash withdrawals” in any way?

Unfortunately we are unable to comment on your first question due to the ongoing investigation into this matter by Lothian and Borders Police, as such this information is exempt under Section 34 (1) (b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act.
Information is exempt if it has at any time been held for the purposes of an investigation, conducted by the authority, which in the circumstances may lead to a decision by the authority to make a report to the Procurator Fiscal to enable it to be determined whether criminal proceedings should be instituted.

This exemption is subject to the public interest test set down by section 2(1) (b) of FOISA, and National Museums Scotland consider that disclosure of this information would hamper the ability to undertake a thorough investigation and would therefore be contrary to the public interest.

With reference to your second question, changes in personnel occurred as a result of a restructuring programme rolled out across several departments in the organisation beginning in March 2012. A single senior Finance role was created and the directorate extended to incorporate the Department of Corporate Policy and Performance, with the new post of Director of Finance and Planning advertised in May 2012.

I hope that this meets your needs, please contact me if you require any further information or clarification.

Yours sincerely,

Dawn Lindsay
Information/Knowledge Manager

1. Your Right to Review

If you are not satisfied with our response to your request for information, you have forty working days from the date of this letter in which to request a review of our decision. Any request should be made to:

Head of Information Services
National Museums Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Tel: 0131 247 4447
Email: [email address]

and should detail:

your request for a review of our decision to be undertaken;

the nature of your original request; and

explain the reasons why you are dissatisfied with our response to your request.

Guidance on your right to seek a review of a Scottish public authority’s decision is available at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website, the address of which is set out below.

2. Your Right to Appeal

If you remain dissatisfied with how your request for information has been dealt with, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether we have handled your request for information properly.

Information relating to your right to seek review is available from the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website, at: www.itspublicknowledge.info or by contacting the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Office by telephone on +44 (0)1334 464 610 (St Andrews).

show quoted sections

Matthew C Blewitt

Dear FOI_Request,

Are you now able to fully comply with this request, 1397?

Yours sincerely,

Matthew C Blewitt

FOI_Request, National Museums of Scotland

Information Services
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF

Matthew C Blewitt
[FOI #149218 email]

17 March 2013

Dear Mr Blewitt

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act – Request Number 1412

This is an acknowledgement and response to your request of 7 June 2013, enquiring whether National Museums Scotland is now in a position to answer the following enquiry, originally submitted by you on 11 February 2013 (request number 1397):

1. In the Annual Accounts 2011/12 it is stated that the initial review into these “cash withdrawals” didn’t imply a “weakness in the system of internal controls.” Is this still the case or have any “broader underlying control weaknesses” been identified at all?

2. David Spilsbury became interim Director of Finance & Planning in October 2012 replacing Andrew Patience who had been in position for over 5 years, also the Head of Finance, who also had over 5 years service & reported into Mr Patience, is no longer employed at NMS.
Are these changes in personnel linked to the “cash withdrawals” in any way?

Our original response sent on 7 March 2013 is still valid. Due to the ongoing investigation into this matter by Lothian and Borders Police, this information is exempt under Section 34 (1) (b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act.
Information is exempt if it has at any time been held for the purposes of an investigation, conducted by the authority, which in the circumstances may lead to a decision by the authority to make a report to the Procurator Fiscal to enable it to be determined whether criminal proceedings should be instituted.

This exemption is subject to the public interest test set down by section 2(1) (b) of FOISA, and National Museums Scotland consider that disclosure of this information would hamper the ability to undertake a thorough investigation and would therefore be contrary to the public interest.

With reference to your second question, we explained that changes in personnel occurred as a result of a restructuring programme rolled out across several departments in the organisation beginning in March 2012. A single senior Finance role was created and the directorate extended to incorporate the Department of Corporate Policy and Performance, with the new post of Director of Finance and Planning advertised in May 2012.

I hope that this meets your needs, please contact me if you require any further information or clarification.

Yours sincerely,

Dawn Lindsay
Information/Knowledge Manager

1. Your Right to Review

If you are not satisfied with our response to your request for information, you have forty working days from the date of this letter in which to request a review of our decision. Any request should be made to:

Head of Information Services
National Museums Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Tel: 0131 247 4447
Email: [email address]

and should detail:

your request for a review of our decision to be undertaken;

the nature of your original request; and

explain the reasons why you are dissatisfied with our response to your request.

Guidance on your right to seek a review of a Scottish public authority’s decision is available at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website, the address of which is set out below.

2. Your Right to Appeal

If you remain dissatisfied with how your request for information has been dealt with, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether we have handled your request for information properly.

Information relating to your right to seek review is available from the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website, at: www.itspublicknowledge.info or by contacting the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Office by telephone on +44 (0)1334 464 610 (St Andrews).

show quoted sections