Dear Mr Benson

Re: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Request for information

Thank you for your email requesting information about terrorism legislation.
Your request has now been considered under the Freedom of Information (Scotland)
Act 2002. The answers to your questions are as follows:
The University does not have any systems, policies, procedures or guidance such
as you describe.
The University is a member of a Group established by Grampian Police to raise
awareness of public authorities, community groups and other relevant
organisations to potential terrorist threats to the United Kingdom". This is
part of the UK Government s long term strategy for countering international
terrorism known as CONTEST details of which can be found at
http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/
Should you be dissatisfied with the University's response under the Act, you
have the right to ask the University formally to review its decision. If you ask
us to do this it will be undertaken by a Lay Member of the University Court, who
has had no previous involvement with your request and who will, if required,
take advice from individuals who also have not been involved. Any request for
review must be in writing or another form capable of preservation, be received
not later than 60 working days following the date of your original request, and
state the matter which gives rise to your dissatisfaction. It should be
addressed to Mr B Purdon, Clerk to the University Court, University Office,
King's College, ABERDEEN AB24 3FX.
If you are still not satisfied you will then have the right to complain to the
Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews,
Fife KY16 9DS.
Yours sincerely,
Rodney Breen

-------------------------------------------
Rodney Breen
Records Manager
University of Aberdeen
University Office
King's College
ABERDEEN AB24 3FX
Tel: 01224 273175 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01224 273175
end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: 01224 273984
Email: rodney.breen@abdn.ac.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
From: ian.benson22@btinternet.com [ian.benson22@btinternet.com]
Sent: 26 April 2010 12:04
To: ian.benson22@btinternet.com
Subject: FOI Request - Terrorism Legislation
FOI Request Terrorism Legislation
I would like to request the following information under the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act. I would ask you to send your response by e-mail.
Q1 Does your institution provide any information or advice to students or staff
on any potential liability under Terrorism legislation which might result from
accessing materials for teaching or research ? If so please provide copies of
any documents held which detail or refer to such information or advice.
Q2 Does your institution have any kind of procedure to review or assess reading
lists, module descriptors or other teaching materials which explicitly or in
practice considers questions of safety and risk under terrorism legislation as
part of its remit ? For example does the institution have anything similar or
analogous to the 'module review process' established at Nottingham University
described here :
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=407122;
http://www.teachingterrorism.net/2009/08/03/nottingham-censorship-a-defence;
http://www.teachingterrorism.net/2009/08/06/is-vetting-at-nottingham-in-defence-
of-academic-freedom
If so please supply full details of this policy and procedure and advise when
and how it was decided upon and implemented.
Q3 Does your institution have any system, policy or procedure in place for
dealing with any potential actions taken by the authorities against the
institution, its students or staff under Terrorism legislation ? If so please
supply a copy of the policy and advise the date it was decided upon and
implemented.
Q4 Does your institution have any system, policy or procedure in place for
preventing violent extremism as recommended for example in the government
guidance document Promoting Good Campus Relations
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/+/http://www.dius.gov.uk/publicati
ons/extremismhe.pdf
Please indicate what procedures or policy exist and advise when it was decided
upon and implemented, and provide copies of any documents held which detail or
refer to such policy or procedures.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Ian Benson
10 County House Mews, Monkgate, York YO31 7NR 01904 673880
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01904 673880
end_of_the_skype_highlighting

The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683.