UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) funding: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for all correspondence between the First Minister and his special advisers and Scottish Government communications staff about the issue of UNRWA funding in January 2024.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested at Annex B to this letter. 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 section 38(1)(b) – Personal Data and Section 30(b)(i) Substantial inhibition to free and frank provision of advice and 30(b)(ii) Substantial inhibition to free and frank exchange of views of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply is explained in the Annex to this letter.

ANNEX A

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

Section 38(1)(b) – Personal information

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party (i.e. names/contact details of individuals), and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. 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.

Section 30(b) – free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views

Information is exempt under sections 30(b) if disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially: (i) the free and frank provision of advice (section 30(b)(i)) or (ii) the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation (section 30(b)(ii)). In this case, the exemption applies because it relates to the drafting of materials for ministers by Scottish Government officials. All of the exemptions in section 30 are subject to the public interest test. This means that, even if an exemption applies, the information must be disclosed unless the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. In this case, we do not consider it in the public interest to disclose this information.

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 202400395825 - Information release - Annex B

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45 page PDF

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616.0 kB