Attendance at the summit for national leaders’ partners in Istanbul: FOI release

Information requested

All correspondence, briefings or any documents relating to Nadia El-Nakla's attendance at the summit for national leaders’ spouses in Istanbul in November.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in the PDF attached.

Some of the information you have requested is available from:

• Meeting with Turkey and Lebanese delegations at COP28: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Response to Q7. and in Annex G from page 66 of the attached document: First Minister meetings and engagements: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

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), s.32(1)(a) (substantial prejudice to international relations) , s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

Exemptions under sections s.30(b)(i), s.32(1)(a) and s.38(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some the information you have requested. This is because the information contains deliberation between officials and the exchange of views for the provision of advice to both senior officials and ministers. This is also because the information includes exchanges with the Turkish Government. The information also includes personal information.

Exemption s.38(1)(b) 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.

Exemptions s.32(1)(a) and s.30(b)(i) 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 some public interest in release because of current media interest in this topic and interest in openness and transparency in government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish Government being able to build strong relationships with other countries and public interest in Scottish Government officials being able to provide advice to senior officials and ministers.

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 202400393320 - Information released - Annex A

File type

4 page PDF

File size

265.0 kB