Date received: 24 March 2022
Date responded: 7 April 2022
Information Requested:
1. All correspondence (including emails, phone calls and whatsapps) between the Scottish Government, Redress Scotland and Johnny Gwynne regarding his resignation as chairman of Redress Scotland.
2. How much money has Mr Gwynne been paid so far for his role as chairman?
3. Is he expected to get compensation/severance payment for his role? How
much is this going to be?
4. What is the process for replacing him as chairman?
Redress Scotland’s Response:
1. All correspondence (including emails, phone calls and whatsapps) between the Scottish Government, Redress Scotland and Johnny Gwynne regarding his resignation as chairman of Redress Scotland. Attached with this response, you will find correspondence between Joanna McCreadie, Chief Executive of Redress Scotland, and Ian Donaldson, Deputy Director, Children’s Rights, Protection and Justice, Scottish Government, regarding Johnny Gwynne’s resignation and a holding statement for media enquiries (Appendix 1). Please note, personal initials are redacted in this document. Johnny Gwynne’s resignation letter is also attached (Appendix 2). A press release issued
by Redress Scotland is also attached (Appendix 3).
Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, where public authorities receive requests for information that they do not hold, they must issue notice advising that they do not hold the requested information. In terms of section 17, Redress Scotland can confirm that it holds no records of phone calls or WhatsApp messages between Scottish Government, Redress Scotland and Johnny
Gwynne or any email correspondence between Johnny Gwynne and the Scottish Government in relation to his resignation. You may be able to obtain some of the information you are looking for by making a Freedom of Information request to the Scottish Government using this link: Freedom of Information Scottish Government.
2. How much money has Mr Gwynne been paid so far for his role as chairman? Since joining the organisation in July 2021 to the end of the 2021/22 financial year, Johnny was paid:
• £52,173 in fees
• £251.10 in expenses
In the 2022/23 financial year until the end of December 2022*, Johnny was paid:
• £64,234.50 in fees
• £227.42 in expenses
*we do not currently have claims for the final quarter
3. Is he expected to get compensation/severance payment for his role? How much is this going to be? Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, where public authorities receive requests for information that they do not hold, they must issue notice advising that they do not hold the requested information. In terms of section 17, Redress Scotland can confirm that it holds no information in relation to compensation/severance payments to the Chair. You may be able to obtain the information you are looking for by making a Freedom of Information request to the
Scottish Government using this link: Freedom of Information Scottish Government
4. What is the process for replacing him as chairman? Bill Matthews (Deputy Chair) has been appointed by Scottish Ministers as Interim Chair until a new permanent Chair is recruited and appointed. The Chair role is a public appointment and as such the appointment process will be co-ordinated by the Scottish Government and is due to be advertised in a fair and open process within the next few weeks. The recommended candidate will require the approval of Scottish Ministers before the appointment is confirmed. You may be able to obtain further information in relation to this by making a Freedom of Information request to the Scottish Government using this link: Freedom of Information Scottish Government.
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