First Minister interview with James Hamilton QC: FOI release

Information requested

In a recent FOI response, with the reference number: 202100150391 an annex was attached which contained an email from the First Minister’s office that stated the afternoon of 1 February 2021 would be held for a video interview between the First Minister and James Hamilton regarding the Ministerial Code investigation.
Please may I request:

1. Any briefing notes prepared for the First Minister in advance of this interview – regardless of whether or not the interview went ahead.

2. Any notes or documents that were recorded by Scottish Government officials during the interview if it did go ahead.

3. The First Minister’s diary for 1 February 2021.

4. Any correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings or otherwise) between the First Minister’s Office and James Hamilton. Please limit to 19 January 2021 and the present date.

Response

With regard to the first part of your request while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The reason why we do not have the information is explained in the Annex to this letter.

With regard to the second part of your request while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information requested because an exemption under section (30c) (Prejudice to the Effective Conduct of Public Affairs) of FOISA applies to that information. The reason why that exemption applies is explained in the Annex to this letter. 

With regard to the third part of your response I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.

1 February 2021
07:45 – 08:45          Travel
08:45 – 10:45          Paperwork
10:45 – 11:15          Daily Briefing: 5th Floor, SAH
11: 15 – 12:15         Paperwork
12:15 – 13:15          Daily Press Briefing, Media Centre, SAH
13:30 – 14:00          Lunch
15:00 – 16:00          Meeting with James Hamilton [redacted]
17:30 – 18:30          Travel
 

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information requested because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (Personal Information) applies to that information. The reason why that exemption applies is explained in the Annex to this letter.

With regard to the fourth part of your request we have interpreted your request to apply to direct communication between the First Minister’s Private Office and James Hamilton QC. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The reason why we do not have the information is explained in the Annex to this letter.

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-202100159382 - Information released - Annex

File type

2 page PDF

File size

100.3 kB