Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence: FOI release

Information requested

On 17th October, the Scottish Government published Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence. It included this statement:

"Given the uncertainty over the outlook for the global, UK, and Scottish economies, and future fiscal and economic policy decisions by the UK and Scottish governments prior to independence, this publication does not present an estimate of the starting fiscal position of an independent Scotland."

Please disclose all internal Scottish Government discussion and analysis (including between Ministers, Civil Servants, and Special Advisers) relating to the question of "starting fiscal position" and the decision to omit any estimate of the starting fiscal position from the above publication. Please restrict the search to dates between 6th May 2021 and 17th October 2022.

Response

Some of the information you have requested is enclosed in Annex A of this letter. Exemptions under Section 29(1)(a) – Formulation or Development of Government Policy, Section 30(b)(ii) – Free and Frank Exchange of Views for the Purposes of Deliberation and Section 30(c) – Prejudice to the Effective Conduct of Public Affairs of FOISA apply to some of the information requested. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex B of this letter.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Annex A-B - 202200325262

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3 page PDF

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233.8 kB