Project Sakura: FOI Review

Information requested

Original request 202300370018

Any reports or briefings issued or submitted to Ministers that would fall within 'Project Sakura' since July 1, 2022.

Response

I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

You expressed you were not satisfied with our reply to your original Freedom of Information (FoI) request which was allocated reference number 202300370018 asking for:

Any reports or briefings issued or submitted to ministers that would fall within 'Project Sakura' since July 1, 2022.

I have been asked to look at your request afresh, to decide whether the original response should be confirmed with or without modifications as appropriate, or that a fresh decision should be substituted. I can confirm that I was not involved in the handling or decision-making around the original response.

I have considered this case again, and I have conducted a comprehensive review of the response, and the reasons behind withholding the requested information. I have concluded that a different decision should be substituted.

I enclose a copy of the updated information for release following my review of your original request.

I have concluded that an exemption under section 33(1)(b) (commercial interests) would not apply to any of the information previously withheld and an exemption under section 30(b)(i) (free and frank advice) would only apply to some of the information previously withheld under this exemption.

I am however satisfied that an exemption under section 30(b)(i) (free and frank advice) and section 38(1)(b) (personal information) would still apply to a small amount of the information previously withheld and exemptions under section 29(1)(a) (policy development), section 30(c) (effective conduct of public affairs) and section 36(1) (legal advice) would also apply to some of the information you have requested. Further information on why these exemptions apply are 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 202300378363 - Information released - Annex

File type

39 page PDF

File size

2.0 MB