To: Elin Jones Nicholas Bourne, Alun Davies, Nerys Evans and Joyce Watson,

Here is a submission to the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee that has been accepted as evidence and circulated to committee members. I expect to be asked to give oral evidence in due course.

I have served the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) under the Freedom of information Act 2000 for a copy of the Haines Watts report into the finances of the University of Wales Lampeter, which led to the University, being unable to fullfil its articles of government through financial failure and resulting merger with Trinity University College Carmarthen.

HEFCW have refused to supply a copy claiming it would harm current open deliberation and its commercial interests, and therefore overrides the public interest. I have informed HEFCW their reasons fail the public interest test set out by the Information Commissioner as follows

Depending on the circumstances, the public interest in disclosure may involve helping to ensure that:

There is informed public debate about significant decisions.

The public are able to participate effectively in decisions affecting them.

There is adequate scrutiny of the decision-making process.

Authorities are accountable for the spending of public money.

Authorities do their job properly.

As the public and Welsh Assembly are excluded from any of the above by the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and the Public Audit (WALES) Act 2004. I expect to receive a copy in due course albeit after it has gone to an Information Tribunal. This report will then be used as part of a substantial complaint to the Charity Commission under the Charity Act 2006. BBC Dragon’s Eye is also investigating this issue.

I have sent a copy to the Clerk of the Enterprise and Learning Committee for their information.

I request your help in putting these matters on a future agenda, as I believe the public interest as defined above is being deliberately excluded from the democratic process.

I can send appendixes I, II, & III upon request as I expect the evidence to be scrutinised by the DIUS Committee

Yours sincerely,

Trevor Mayes