Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture What's App messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI release

Information requested

Angus Robertson's WhatsApp messages from his ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Response

I have taken the period of your request to apply from 21 January 2020 when the World Health Organisation published its ‘Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report, up until 30 April 2022 when the then remaining Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Scotland.

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. Some of the information you have requested is available from the Scottish Government website. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

An exemption under section 29(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested as it relates to communications between 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. 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 a private space within which issues can be explored and refined to reach a decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space also allows for all options to be properly considered, so that good decisions can be taken.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to a small amount of the information you have requested as it relates the personal information of a third party. 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.

FOI202400422238 - Information Released - Annex

File type

1 page PDF

File size

152.6 kB