Dear University of the Highlands and Islands,

I would like to request the past exam question papers of BSc. Oral Health Science year ONE, including Short Answer Test (SAT) and Multiple Short Answer (MSA) . And final exam question papers.

Behavioural science
Biomedical science
Clinical dentistry 1
Clinical practice 1
Oral biology
Clinical assessment: Objective Structured Clinical Examination(OSCE)

Yours faithfully,

Danny Smith

FOI, University of the Highlands and Islands

Dear Mr Smith

Re: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

Thank you for your enquiry, which has been logged and passed to the relevant department within the University for processing. Please quote reference number FOI 100 should you need to contact the University regarding this request.

A response will be sent to you promptly and in any case not later than 20 working days after the date we received your email.

The University will make every effort to provide you with the information requested; if any clarification is required, the University will contact you as soon as possible. In some circumstances, it may not be possible to provide you with an answer to your enquiry. Where the University believes this is the case, you will be informed in writing, stating the reason(s). If the information you are seeking is already published by the University, or is otherwise available to members of the public, you will be sent details outlining how to access the information. You will be advised if it is necessary for the University to charge a fee to cover the costs of processing your request. Should this be the case, please note the information cannot be released until such payment is received.

If you have any questions regarding your request for information then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Christine Shaw
Corporate Governance Officer
DDI / Fòn: 01847 889380

FOI, University of the Highlands and Islands

Dear Danny

Re: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

I refer to your request for information received on the 24th October 2017, relating to past exam question papers of BSc. Oral Health Science year ONE, including Short Answer Test (SAT) and Multiple Short Answer (MSA) . And final exam question papers - FOI 100.

I am writing to let you know that the University of the Highlands and Islands is withholding the information that you have requested in accordance with Section 33(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. This section of FOISA exempts information from disclosure where its disclosure under the Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person or public authority. For section 33(1)(b) to apply, commercial interests in relation to the information must exist.

The University considers that the information requested has a commercial value and that release of this information would cause commercial harm to the University. Please note that section 33(1)(b) exemption is subject to the public interest test contained within section 2(1)(b) of FOISA.

The University has considered the application of the public interest test and in particular whether the public interest in disclosing the information is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the exemption. The University operates within a commercially competitive environment and the public interest is in ensuring the continuing success of the University. The disclosure of past exam papers would be detrimental because it would inhibit the ability of the University to manage its business within a competitive environment. The University considers that there is clear and genuine risk that our competitors could use the information to their own advantage. The rationale for releasing the information would be to aid revision and study, however, our own students already have access to appropriate resources for this purpose and we have concluded that the ‘public interest test’ as required when applying section 33 of FOISA, is met. The public interest in withholding the information is greater than the public interest in its release.

Your right to seek a review of our decision
If you are not satisfied with our response or our reasoning set-out above, you have forty working days in which to request a review of our decision. Any request should be put in writing and should be sent to me at the address detailed at the bottom of this email.
Your request should:

(a) describe the nature of your original request; and
(b) explain the reasons why you are not satisfied with our response.

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 properly.

Information relating to your right to seek review is available from the Scottish Information Commissioner's web page at: http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/faqs.... or by contacting the Scottish Information Commissioner's Office at the following address:

Scottish Information Commissioner,
Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road,
St Andrews,
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Fax: 01334 464611
E-mail: [email address]
Website: www.itspublicknowledge.info

Finally, should you wish to discuss the contents of this response then please do not hesitate to contact me via the FOI email.

Yours sincerely
Christine Shaw

Corporate Governance Officer
UHI Executive Office, 12b Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5SQ
01847 889380

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