Labour MSP Neil Findlay says journalists have highlighted requests not being answered within the required time or being ignored.

Mr Findlay says requests have been refused or blocked for tenuous reasons.

The Labour MSP says the complaints have been made by a diverse list of prominent and well-respected journalists.

He likens the tactics used by the Scottish government to that of dictators.

Image source, Getty Images

Journalists from across Scotland's media have signed an open letter, external raising concerns about the way the Scottish government handles freedom of information (FoI) requests.

It accuses the government of failing to keep records of information that should be available.

And it claims that FoI requests are often screened by special advisers for any potential political damage.

The government said Scotland has the most open FoI laws in the UK.

But it said the "increasing volume and complexity" of some requests can prove time consuming, and has the potential to "seriously impact on the work of government".

Read more here.

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Labour MSP Neil Findlay says sadly no member of the SNP managed to sign his motion.

He says the 94% of the public agreed it is important government information can be accessed.

The Labour MSP says the quality of replies to parliamentary questions is "dross" and it "demeans us".

He says FOI requests illicit very little information.

The Labour MSP says 23 prominent journalists raised very serious concerns about government mishandling of FOI request, deliberately in Mr Findlay's view.

Mr Findlay says that the journalists’ criticism of FOISA shows that it is time to have a review of whether the legislation remains robust or has been diminished.

The Labour MSP questions whether it should be extended and strengthened.

He also questions whether elements of it are still appropriate, such as the level set for the cost exemption, whereby the Scottish government may refuse to provide information if the cost of doing so exceeds £600, a figure that hasn't been updated since FOISA came into force.

Mr Findlay says that a review would ensure that people in Lothian and across the country who use their FOI rights could be confident that FOISA would be improved and applied in a way that was consistent with the spirit intended when the law was established.

Mr Findlay says this flies in the face of the Scottish government’s much-vaunted assessment of itself as open and transparent including through:

• the Open Government Partnership Scottish National Action Plan
• its role as one of 15 pioneer members of the Open Government Partnership’s inaugural International Subnational Government Programme
• legislation such as the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011

The Labour MSP says that the Scottish Government introduced its Record Management Plan to comply with the 2011 Act.

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Labour MSP Neil Findlay uses his motion to raise his "great concern" over the letter from 23 prominent Scottish journalists to the selection panel for the appointment of the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Mr Findlay says the letter was published on 1 June 2017 by The Ferret and Common Space and details what they argue are the failures of the Scottish Government and its agencies in relation to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

The Labour MSP says that it suggests that the application of FOISA by ministers and officials is questionable at best and, at worst, implies a culture and practice of secrecy and cover up including:

• routinely avoiding sharing information
• not recording or taking minutes of meetings that are attended by ministers or senior civil servants

Labour MSP Neil Findlay will now lead a debate entitled 'Leading Journalists Criticise the Scottish Government over FOISA'.

Here is Mr Findlay's motion.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The government motion as amended is agreed to unanimously.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The Labour amendment is agreed to unanimously.

We now move to decision time.

Mr Matheson says it is important that landlords consider who they are letting the properties to.

The justice secretary says the government is taking forward measures that recognises the cross-border nature of human trafficking.

Mr Matheson says it is important the UK remains in Europol and highlights the benefits from the European Arrest Warrant.

He concludes saying the government wants to make Scotland a hostile place for human trafficking.

Mr Matheson says the data highlights that Vietnamese have been the biggest group supported following human trafficking.

The justice secretary says there might be more work to do "further up stream" in the countries where victims originate.

He says there is a very public nature about where some huma trafficking takes place for example in nail bars, agriculture and the fishing industry.

"This could be happening under your nose," he says.

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Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says there is a recognition across the chamber of the complexity in tackling exploitation and trafficking.

Mr Matheson praises the efforts of Jenny Marra and Christina McKelvie in raising awareness around the issue and he says he will accept the Labour amendment.

He says very often people have a perception that human trafficking does not take here in Scotland.

Mr Matheson says the number of referrals has increased by 3.4% between 2015 and 2016.

Tory MSP Annie Wells says the 2015 Act requires a review of the strategy within three years which means that the parliament will have the opportunity to review its effectiveness.

Ms Wells says there is a need for cooperation across borders and that cooperation of agencies following Brexit is essential.

The Tory MSP says the Scottish government strategy is welcome an that her party will support the government motion and the Labour amendment.

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Conservative MSP Annie Wells says the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act and the publication of the strategy are welcome but she says the BBC Scotland documentary highlighted the challenges still remaining.

Ms Wells says she supports the actions in the strategy to identify perpetrators.

She praises the work of Victim Support Scotland.

The Tory MSP also supports the strategy's approach to tackling violence against women and girls.

Labour MSP Claire Baker says we need to be aware that boys and girls, like men and women, experience trafficking in different ways and that the support required will be different.

Ms Baker says that there are effective ways to communicate with people on this issue to raise awareness and that may be via dramas and television programmes.

The Labour MSP says there are many victims in forced labour working in services that we use everyday.

She says this is a global issue and that some of the people affected may have low literacy and language skills.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Claire Baker says human trafficking is abhorrent and has no place in Scotland.

The Labour MSP says the government's strategy, external is a living document and all views must be held.

She welcomes the justice secretary's announcement of a doubling of the support for victims to 90 days.

The Labour MSP says the networks that have been built up across Europe must be maintained.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says the image of what we think a human slave might look like doesn't always match the stereotype.

Mr Greene refers to a 6ft "burly" Polish man who was brought to the UK and forced to work in agriculture before being beat up by gang masters.

The Tory MSP says fear is a way of controlling people and this can make it difficult for victims to come forward.

He says the focus on victims is important and that measurement and monitoring is the key to success.

Mr Greene says the message to traffickers should be "you are not welcome here."

SNP MSP Sandra White pays tribute to the BBC's investigative reporter Sam Polling for her work in highlighting human trafficking.

Ms White also mentions a recent human trafficking story line on BBC Scotland drama River City which helps to raise awareness.

The SNP MSP says many people are trafficked for work in the catering industry and find they are sharing a room with 10 other people and paid about £1 per day.

"We must have cross border working throughout Europe," she says.