First Minister’s Paris visit, purpose, costs and personnel involved: FOI release

Information requested

 

I see that Sturgeon has gone to pose in Paris. Please provide the info below:
What was the ostensible reason?
How many the joined the great leader in this junket?
What were flight costs broken down by person?
What were the hotel costs per person?
What were total hospitality costs?
What were total transport costs?
Was there a photographer in the party?
Was a special adviser involved in this response?”

 

Response

 

The answer to your question is:

 “What was the ostensible reason?”
The First Minister visited Paris on 18 February as part of the celebrations of the opening of the Scottish Government’s new Innovation and Investment Hub in Paris. During this visit, First Minister had a series of business and ministerial meetings as well as a visit to the French National Assembly, where she addressed the Foreign Affairs Committee.

 “Was there a photographer in the party?”
A photographer was not part of her party, however, a photographer was in attendance during the opening reception.

 “Was a special adviser involved in this response?”
No

 

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section Section 27(1) – information intended for future publication of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

 

ANNEX
REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION
An exemption applies
An exemption(s) under section(s) Section 27(1) – information intended for future publication FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.
An exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested because we intend to publish that information within 12 weeks of the date of your request. We consider that it is reasonable to withhold the information until that date, rather than release this routinely published information before the planned publication date.
This information will be published on gov.scot/publications.

 

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