Minutes of SGoRR and Gold Command meetings: FOI release

Information requested

The minutes of any SGoRR meeting in 2023 and, so far, in 2024.

The minutes of any Gold Command or similarly titled meeting in the same time period.

Response

In response to your request, the Scottish Government hosts meeting generally referred to as SGoRR(O) and SGoRR(M).

The dates and timings of the meetings during the time period of your FOI referenced above are as follows:

1. 06/01/23 1100-1200
2. 13/0123 0900-1000
3. 20/01/23 0930-1030
4. 27/01/23 0930-1030
5. 03/02/23 1230-1330
6. 10/02/23 0930-1030
7. 28/02/23 1400-1500
8. 05/06/23 1600-1630
9. 08/06/23 1400-1430
10. 03/07/23 0900-1000
11. 19/07/23 1230-1330
12. 06/10/23 1400-1500
13. 07/10/23 1500-1600
14. 08/10/23 1500 -1600
15. 18/10/23 1500-1600
16. 18/10/23 1700-1800
17. 19/10/23 1600-1700
18. 20/10/23 1600-1700
19. 21/10/23 1600-1700
20. 16/12/23 1500-1600
21. 27/12/23 2000-2100
22. 16/01/24 1030-1130
23. 21/01/24 1400-1500
24. 22/01/24 1300-1400
25. 24/01/24 1130-1230

Appendices 1-25 contain “notes” and “actions” arising from meetings that took place during the time period of your FOI referenced above. In the process of considering your FOI request we have taken the view that “minutes” could reasonably be interpreted to include any notes of actions from a meeting, since they reflect key decisions made. Please note that not all SGoRR meetings will produce “actions.”

As is Scottish Government practice, details and names of staff below the level of Senior Civil Servant, Director, Deputy Director and Special Adviser have been removed under exemption 38(1)(b) of FOI(S)A.

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 an exemption under section 31 of FOISA applies to that information. Two SGoR(M) meetings during the period covered by your request included discussions held in relation to Contingency planning for commercial sites.

This exemption is subject to the “public interest test”. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances in 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, and to inform public debate. However, we have determined that disclosure of additional information would not serve a greater public interest and is likely to prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the companies involved. Exemptions under section Section 33(1)(b) (Commercial Interests) of FOISA apply to that information. The topics discussed were at a stage of consideration when private space to discuss was essential and related to the ongoing strategy employed in keeping the sites viable.

With regards to the final part of your request relating to Gold Command or similarly titled meetings, there were no Gold Command meetings relating to the Covid epidemic during this period. We are not in a position to confirm whether this term was used for other, non-Covid related subjects in this time.

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 202400396171 - Information released - Appendix 1 - 25

File type

134 page PDF

File size

3.0 MB