Correspondence regarding the ‘Muriel Spark’ celebrations: FOI release

Information requested

Correspondence between the Scottish Government and the following organisations/individuals regarding the ‘Muriel Spark’ celebrations:

• Scottish Book Trust (SBT)
• Creative Scotland (CS)
• Birlinn (Birlinn Limited)
• Alan Taylor
• Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)
• Postcode Culture Trust (PCT)

Date range
1 July 2016 to 10 August 2020. (We expect that the majority will be 2017-2018.)

Response

I am sorry for the delay in responding to your request. This was the result of increased volumes of correspondence received by the Scottish Government and other work pressures in relation to Covid-19.

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested. An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. s.38(1)(b) applies to personal information of a third party - this includes (but is not limited to) names, email addresses and phone numbers which have been removed from this response. This 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.

There is also a very small amount of information exempt under section 30(c) – substantial prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs. This is because disclosing a Bank of Scotland’s Account Number and Sort Code, and if it were to be used in an illegal act, would substantially prejudice their ability to conduct their business and damage their relationship with the Scottish Government.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, 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. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the processes of the Bank of Scotland and maintaining their relation with us, which is done so by not revealing their financial information as part of this FOI release.

Due to the size of the files we are unable to upload the documents referred to above.
If you wish to consider, please contact us at the address below and we will be happy to provide. 

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.