FOI release

Post received by the SIA: 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2022

Published 15 March 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-received-by-the-sia-1-april-2020-to-31-march-2022/post-received-by-the-sia-1-april-2020-to-31-march-2022

1. Request

  1. The total number of in-house verifications completed by staff of original documents received at the office for the following categories (if applicable): ID proof, address proof, and UK-criminality certificates (Disclosure Scotland certificates) in FY2020/2021 and FY2021/2022.
  2. The total number of incoming post received in FY2020/21 and FY2021/2022.
  3. The exact reason why only your outgoing post is handled by a third party located within your building (whilst the incoming post is handled by in-house staff).

2. Response

I can confirm that the SIA holds the information you have requested.

2.1 Question 1

Due to the process changes made during and post COVID-19 we are unable to provide a value for the number of in-house verifications for ID proof and address proof. We were not and are no longer using IDScan. Additionally, PaperStream was not being used at the time and has not been reinstated yet, therefore we are unable to provide you with a total number.

Disclosure Scotland Certificates received:

  • 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 = 800
  • 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 = 2,466

2.2 Question 2

This information has been entered into a spreadsheet. Please see attached.

Incoming post received:

  • 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 = 827
  • 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 = 3,777

2.3 Question 3

Mitie effectively act as the intermediary to bring post that arrives at SIA Headquarters up to the SIA’s office or take post away for it to be sent. In respect of outgoing post, all post will be sent out via Mitie as the intermediary, each department will look after their own outgoing post and have their own processes for logging it. There’s a post box in the SIA’s office that all departments can use and this is collected every day by Mitie staff.

[Reference: FOI 0398]

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