Correspondence concerning the meeting about Newlands Junior College: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for:

All notes and minutes pertaining to a meeting between John Swinney and Jim McColl about Newlands Junior College, which took place on 16th January 2019.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

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 exemptions under sections s.30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information)] of FOISA apply to that information.

The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

An exemption under section s.30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies where disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial harm to the free and frank provision of advice. This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.

An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies where the data is the personal data of third parties. In this case, the exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

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.

FOI/202000011519 Information released

File type

16 page PDF

File size

605.9 kB