Publication - FOI/EIR release

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

Published: 11 March 2024
Directorate: External Affairs Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202400398300
Date received: 12 February 2024
Date responded: 8 March 2024

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Information requested

Any correspondence between the First Minister and other parties regarding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) since 7 October 2023.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested. All of this correspondence has previously been released across three previous Freedom of Information requests; these responses are attached as Annex A-C of this email. They may contain minimal additional material that is extraneous to your
request; this is already in the public domain as it has, or shortly will be, published on the Scottish Government website as an Freedom of Information request response. The exemptions outlined below are exactly the same as those applied to previously published responses.

Exemptions

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you 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.

An exemption under section 30(b)(i) and (ii) of FOISA applies to some of the information you requested. 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 parts of the attached documents that contain the free and frank provision of advice from Scottish Government advice from Scottish Government officials to ministers. This exemption is 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.

An exemption under section 32(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you requested. Information is exempt from disclosure if disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially – (i) relations between the UK and any other State; (ii) relations between the UK and any international organisation or international court; (iii) the interests of the UK abroad; or (iv) the promotion or protection by the UK of its interests abroad. In this case, the exemption applies because it relates to content within the attached documents which references programmes or relationships between Scotland and other countries. This exemption is 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.

An exemption under Section 28(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you requested. Information is exempt from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially relations between administrations in the UK (e.g. between Westminster and Holyrood). In this case, the exemption applies because it relates to content in the attached which relates to the UK Government. This exemption is 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.

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.