Media update

BBC news McLetchie resigns as Tory leader
"Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie has announced that he is standing down. The move follows pressure over his Scottish Parliament taxi expenses. Mr McLetchie spent £11,500 on taxis during the first five years of Holyrood - more than any other MSP - but said the claims were made in good faith. The Edinburgh Pentlands MSP said he was standing down with a "heavy heart" but that he recognised the recent coverage had been damaging. …. Pressure had mounted on Mr McLetchie after the Scottish Parliament published full details of his travel expenses, following a request under freedom of information legislation…."

Local Govt Chronicle - CPA TO INCLUDE FOI
" Councils may be downgraded in their comprehensive performance assessment if they fail to respond to Freedom of Information requests, LGC has learned. Speculation is growing that compliance with FOI legislation — which became a duty on all councils at the start of this year — will also become part of CPA when the framework is reviewed in three years' time. Deputy information commissioner Graham Smith has hinted that patience is running out with councils who consistently fail to meet the 20 working day deadline for responding to requests. The quality of record management across councils varied enormously, he said, with many struggling to respond to requests for data from the 1960s or 70s because record-keeping systems from that period are poor or non-existent."