Funding for the Scottish Government’s overseas offices and Burns Night events spend: FOI release

Information requested

1. All briefings prepared for Angus Robertson's topical questions at the Scottish Parliament on January 10?

2. How many complaints were made about his comments during this session and can you supply the details of the complaints?

-Could you supply all the correspondence sent and received by the Scottish Government regarding this question session, including internal correspondence.

3. Can you supply all the salaries for the head of each international office?

4. How much does the Scottish Government's head of European Relations make?

5. Could you supply the spend on Burns Night events at every international office in 2024, and include a breakdown of these costs?

Response

In response to question 1, I enclose a copy of majority of the information you requested, please find enclosed the information at Annex B of this response. 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 30(b)(i) – Free and Frank provision of advice and s.38(1) (b)(personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply is explained in Annex A to this letter.

In response to question 2, there is no record of any complaints made to the Scottish Government relating to the Cabinet Secretary’s contribution to topical questions on 10th January. This is a formal notice that the Scottish Government does not hold any information in scope of this request.

With regards to question 3, I can confirm all our international offices, with the exception of Scotland House Brussels, are led by colleagues below SCS level. Therefore while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide a small amount of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. This is because it is personal data of a third party, specifically the salaries 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. I can confirm the Head of Scotland House Brussels is above the SCS threshold and details of his salary have been published previously Senior Civil Service pay: March 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Details of the pay scales of Scottish Government staff below SCS can be found here: Our Reward Benefits - Work For Scotland (work-for-scotland.org). 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 website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

In response to question 4, similar to above the Head of European Relations is not a SCS post.

Therefore 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 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. This is because it is personal data of a third party, specifically the salaries 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.

In relation to question 5, please find enclosed a breakdown of costs of Burns Night events held across the international network in 2024.

Innovation Hub	Costs
Beijing	£2,852 (catering £1,862; and comms and marketing £990).£6,815 (3 sponsorship payments - no available breakdowns – not SG-hosted events).
	Total - £9,667
Berlin	£3,000 (Ceilidh band) Total £3000
Brussels	£5,975 (catering £1,574; and entertainment £4,241) £12,641 (catering £6,765; and entertainment (inc. AV and security) £5,876) Total - £18,616
Copenhagen	(catering £3,500; entertainment (inc. AV) £8,500; and comms and marketing £1,800) Total - £13,800
Dublin	(catering £5,955; and entertainment (inc. AV/venue hire/photographer) £9,925) Total - £15,880
Ottawa	£171 (Tickets to attend Parliament Hill’s Burns Supper) £4,127 (2 sponsorship payments - no available breakdowns – not SG-hosted events) Total - £4,298
Paris	£512 (1 sponsorship payment - no available breakdown – not an SG-hosted event) Total £512
Washington	£4,483 (catering £1,922; and entertainment £2,561) £6,766 (3 sponsorship payments) Total £11,249

ANNEX A
REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

Section 30(b)(i) – Free and Frank provision of advice applies
An exemption under section 30(b)(i) – Free and Frank provision of advice applies to some of the information requested. The exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, substantially inhibit the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. The exemption recognises the need for Ministers and officials to have a private space within which to discuss and explore options to inform the decision making process.

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. 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, there is a greater public interest in allowing Ministers and officials a private space within which to consider various factors to ensure that sound policy decisions can be taken.

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.

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 202400398829 - Information Released - Annex B

File type

PDF

File size

345.0 kB