EU and UK exports, costs of consular reception and meeting with Pedro Serrano: FOI release

Information requested

1. Could you supply all analysis undertaken by the Scottish Government or for the Scottish Government about Scotland's exports to the European Union and to the rest of the UK?
-Could you also supply any correspondence held, minutes and notes from meetings, and briefings about this topic from the last three months?

2. Could you supply all minutes/notes from the meeting Humza Yousaf held with Pedro Serrano in April, as well as all documentation held surrounding it?

3. Could you supply the full costs to the Scottish Government of holding the consular reception on April 15, with a full breakdown of costs?

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested as an electronic copy.

The answer to question 1 of your request is given in 7 documents some of which have embedded files to make it easier for you to see which attachments, for example in email correspondence, belong to which email. An exemption under section 27(2) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested particularly related to an Free Trade Agreement modelling project. Under this section, information is exempt from disclosure if the information has been obtained in the course of, or is derived from, a programme of research. 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 disclosure would enhance public scrutiny of Government decision making. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in avoiding the misinterpretation of incomplete data, significantly harming the value of the research. The programme of research through which information withheld under Section 27(2) has been derived is expected to be completed, and a report of this research published, by end 2024.

Some information has been withheld under section 27 (1) as this analysis is due to be published in the next 12 weeks. This particularly relates to SG analysis of HMRC Regional Trade statistics which takes account of inflation through new Chain Volume Measures methodology. Note prototype analysis and correspondence considered was all draft and/or discussion of what will be published within the next 12 weeks from date of request. Some information has been withheld under section 30 Advice to Ministers. Other information has been redacted within the response due to being out of scope. For all questions as part of this request, Redactions have been made under s: 38(1)(b) (Personal data); s.32(1)(a)(ii) (Relations between UK and any other international organisation or court; and s.30 ﴾b﴿﴾i﴿ ﴾Free and frank provision of views﴿.

Due to the size of the files we are unable to upload the documents referred to above.

If you wish to consider, please contact us at the address below and we will be happy to provide.

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.