Correspondence between Scottish Government and Qatari Government: FOI release

Information requested

• all correspondence, whatsapp, unofficial and screenshots of deleted correspondence, emails and unofficial notes between the Scottish Government and Qatari Government.
• all correspondence, whatsapp, unofficial and screenshots of deleted correspondence, emails and unofficial notes between the Scottish Government and Qatar Investment Authority.

Response

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

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reason why we don't have the information is explained below.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the Scottish Government does not have any recorded information in relation to communications between the Scottish Government and the Qatar Investment Authority.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

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

An exemption under section s.38(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested because some of the information is personal information. 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 s.32(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. S.32(1)(a) applies because some of the information requested relates to international relations and would likely prejudice substantially relations between the UK and another state. 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 some public interest in release because of interest in open and transparent government and current heightened media interest in the Scottish
Government’s international activity. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish Government and UK Government building relationships with other countries.

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 202400401028 - Information Released - Annex

File type

5 page PDF

File size

85.7 kB