Ministerial correspondence in relation to same sex marriage: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01313 Date received: 12 June 2017
Date responded: 4 July 2017

Information requested

All correspondence during 2015 from Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster to the Scottish Government related to same sex marriage; and any correspondence amongst Scottish Government officials in relation to any request from Ms Foster.

Response

Please find attached a copy of the information requested, and attach a schedule listing the documents. On the correspondence from Ms Foster, the attached letter from her and the reply by Mr Biagi, the former Scottish Government Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment, is the only correspondence from Ms Foster on same sex marriage to the Scottish Government that we are aware of.

As indicated in my acknowledgement letter of 20 June 2017, the Scottish Government has already published this correspondence between Ms Foster and Mr Biagi at (/publications/changing-civil-partnerships-registered-outwith-scotland/)

In line with usual practice I have redacted:

• The names of private office staff.

• Mobile phone numbers and blackberry numbers.

Schedule of Documents, FOI Case Number: FOI/17/01313:

1. Letter of 4 September 2015 by Arlene Foster MLA to Marco Biagi.

2. Reply of 24 November 2015 by Mr Biagi to Ms Foster.

3. Email dated 2 October 2015 by Simon Stockwell to Liam Rankin enclosing letter by Ms Foster and unsigned version of reply to Ms Foster.

4. Email dated 6 October 2015 to Liam Rankin and Simon Stockwell by Mr Biagi's Private Office.

5. Email dated 3 November 2015 by Simon Stockwell enclosing briefing note and reply dated 5 November 2015 by Mr Biagi's Private Office.

6. Email dated 25 November 2015 by Mr Biagi's Private Office and reply also dated 25 November 2015 by Simon Stockwell.

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foi-17-01313 related correspondence.pdf

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