The Act – Section by Section Part 1 – Access to information held by Scottish public authorities Section 22 – Special provisions relating to records transferred to the Keeper
78.This section addresses the situation where the Keeper of the Records of Scotland receives a request for information which has been transferred to him by a Scottish public authority and which has not been designated by that authority as open information for the purposes of this section, or where the Keeper receives a requirement for review that relates to a relevant decision taken by the transferring authority. In those circumstances, the Keeper must, as soon as practicable, send a copy of the request to the transferring authority.
79.Where a request for information is involved, it is for the remitting authority to decide whether the information is exempt by virtue of any provision in Part 2 and, in cases where it is, to determine whether there is an overriding public interest in disclosure. The remitting authority must advise the Keeper of its decision in sufficient time to enable the Keeper to comply with the requirement, as set down in section 10, for the Keeper to respond within 30 working days from receipt of the request for information.
80.Where the Keeper receives a relevant requirement for review, it is for the remitting authority to review the decision it took under section 22(2) and to advise the Keeper accordingly in such time as will enable the Keeper to give notice in writing to the applicant within the 30 working day period. The Keeper will include information and any statement provided by the remitting authority in his notice to the applicant.
81.Records transferred to the Keeper by the Secretary of State for Scotland before 1 July 1999 are treated as falling within the provisions of this section and the Scottish Ministers are deemed to be the remitting authority in respect of such records.