Impartiality of the Scottish Government with regards to political messaging: FOI release

Information requested

All internal discussions on handling this (202400408775) request. This should include any email correspondence relating to it; any Teams messages relating to it; any documents produced which outlined the assessment made of the balance of public interest test; its inclusion in any summaries going to SCS, Special Advisers, the Permanent Secretary or Ministers; and any advice going to the latter list on this subject.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the format you asked for.

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 30(b) (ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information. The release of information within scope would significantly impact the ability for officials to have free and frank discussion around the development of the Scottish Government’s approaches to information handling. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. We have considered if the public interest in disclosing 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 officials a private space within which to explore and refine the Government’s approaches to information handling. It is clearly in the public interest for the Scottish Government to be able to handle information in a clear and fully considered way. Full and frank internal discussion as officials develop materials for public communication is essential to enable this to be achieved. Premature disclosure of such discussions could lead to a reduction in the comprehensiveness and frankness of such exchanges in the future, which would in turn undermine the quality if Scottish Government information handling. This would not be in the public interest.

Additional information
Documents 1, 2 & 5 contained attachments, however are considered out of scope of this request as you have asked for a copy of internal discussions on the handling of the previous request.

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 202400413226 - Information Released - Annex

File type

57 page PDF

File size

1.2 MB