Information relating to graduating students – Mr Ralph Lucas requested from the University of Glasgow (the University) statistical data relating to certain students who had graduated from the University in the academic years 2006/7 to 2008/9 inclusive. The University responded by advising Mr Lucas that it considered the information to be exempt from disclosure in terms of section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), on the basis that the disclosure of the information would identify individual graduates and disclosure would be unlawful under Data Protection Act 1998 (the DPA). Following a review, Mr Lucas remained dissatisfied and applied to the Commissioner for a decision.
Following an investigation, the Commissioner found that the exemption did not apply to the statistical data. While he accepted that it was possible that disclosure would identify individuals (and he therefore agreed that the statistical data requested by Mr Lucas comprised personal data), he did not consider that disclosure would breach the DPA. He therefore required the University to provide Mr Lucas with the requested information.
Citations:
[2011] ScotIC 156 – 2011
Links:
Scotland, Information
Updated: 23 September 2022; Ref: scu.447368