Changes to Ministerial Gifts: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to ask the following under FOI. I recently asked for copies of original sheets showing the declared ministerial gifts and have done a quick comparison to understand what has changed. I am particularly curious about changes relating to November 2016, March 2017 and October 2017 and would like to request any materials and correspondences relating to these changes.

When were the updates from 'On Display' to 'Purchased by Minister' logged by or on behalf of Aileen Campbell and Nicola Sturgeon?

What was the date of the Purchase and how was that Purchase and any valuation carried out Why was a new entry for each not created rather than replacing the original (was the original logged incorrectly)?

What prompted these changes/additions to all be made and released on the same day, despite being related to old records?

Who logged each of the changes and on what date (please provide emails or copies of communication)?

What is the context for something being On Display, where would these have been displayed and for how long?

Response

When were the updates from 'On Display' to 'Purchased by Minister' logged by or on behalf of Aileen Campbell and Nicola Sturgeon?

Ministerial gifts are published on the Scottish Government website Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). At the end of an administration the status of the gifts over £140 is now reviewed, and where any gifts have been purchased the record of the gift status is updated. The gift record for gifts purchased since publication of the register was updated on 06 March 2023 as part of the transition between administrations.

What was the date of the Purchase and how was that Purchase and any valuation carried out?

Gifts given to Ministers in their Ministerial capacity become the property of the Government, however, however, gifts of small value, currently up to £140, may be retained by the Minister in question. Gifts over the value of £140 may be purchased by the recipient at their cash value (abated by £140). The date of the two purchases is recorded as:

• Nicola Sturgeon gift purchase: 02 December 2020.
• Aileen Campbell gift purchase: 23 March 2021.

The purchase value of the gift is the value published on the website abated by £140. The value of the gift is established at the time of the gift is received. The value is established through web searches: first to establish whether the gift is over the value of £140; and then to establish a value at the time of the gift (e.g. on a website or on an auction site for a comparable item).

Why was a new entry for each not created rather than replacing the original (was the original logged incorrectly)?

The entry for ministerial gifts over the value of £140 is shown on the Scottish Government on the website Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). As noted above, the record was updated to reflect the changed status of the gift at the end of the last administration to bring the overall entries up to date.

What prompted these changes/additions to all be made and released on the same day, despite being related to old records?

This was a routine administrative action at the time of the change of an administration. The changes updated the record of the gifts over the value of £140 received since 2015.

Who logged each of the changes and on what date (please provide emails or copies of communication)?

The changes were made by the Scottish Government webteam. The date of the update was Monday 6 March. The relevant email communication on this request is attached at Annex A.

An exemption(s) under section(s) section 38(1)(b) (personal data relating to third party) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. We have not provided names of individuals below rank of Senior Civil Service in the Scottish Government or other information which may identify them. This information has been redacted.

What is the context for something being On Display, where would these have been displayed and for how long?

Gifts over the value of £140 are routinely on display in a Scottish Government Ministerial room or Scottish Parliament ministerial office. At the end of an administration the gifts are removed from display as part the pre-election period activity, or the transition activity.

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 - 202300349924

File type

2 page PDF

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217.5 kB