United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) funding, US Consul General documents and costs of Independence Day Celebration: FOI Release

Information requested

(1)(a) Could you supply all analysis undertaken by or for the Scottish Government about funding for the UNRWA, including details of any probe into past funding, and (b) any correspondence mentioning the charity, from the last three months?

(2) Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government mentioning or from the US Consul General in Edinburgh, including minutes/notes from meetings, correspondence and briefings, from the last three months?

(3) Could you provide the full costs to the Scottish Government of holding the independence Day celebration on June 27 in Leith Distillery, with full breakdown of these costs?

Response

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

Regarding part 1(a) of your question: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because no probe into past Scottish Government funding of the UNRWA exists.

Regarding part 1(b) of your question: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. This is because the number of emails which fall under the scope of your request is too high. Under section 12 of FOISA public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12. You may, however, wish to consider reducing the scope of your request in order that the costs can be brought below £600. You may also find it helpful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner's 'Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs' on his website at: http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Tipsforrequesters.aspx.

Regarding part (2) of your question: Some of the information you have requested is attached at Annex A to this letter. 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 the following exemptions under FOISA apply to that information:

• 38(1)(b) (Personal Information) - This is because the personal data of civil servants below Senior Civil Service level is included, as well as the personal data of external stakeholders. 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.
• Section 32(1)(a)(i) (International Relations). This is because some of the information included, if disclosed would, or would be likely to prejudice 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.
• Section 30 (Free and Frank provision of advice or exchange of views). This is because some of the correspondence, if disclosed would or would be likely to inhibit substantially the free and drank provision of advice, and the free and drank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. 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.
• Section 28 (Relations within the UK). This is because some of the correspondence if disclosed, would or would be likely to prejudice substantially relations between administrations in the UK. 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.

Regarding part (3) of your question: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government did not host an Independence Day celebration on June 27th, either at Leith Distillery or any other venue.

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 202400423796 - Information released - Annex A

File type

107 page PDF

File size

1.5 MB