Correspondence regarding Scottish Government’s National Treatment Centres: FOI release

Information requested

I am looking for all written communication, including associated briefings, to and from Ministers since 1 March 2024 to most recent relating to the Scottish Government’s National Treatment Centres.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the attached documents.

Document number	Document title
01	Collated Emails NTC Programme SRO
02	Cab Sec Submission - Waiting Times Proposition Paper - September 2023
03	Cabinet Secretary HSC - Briefing Pack - WT Debate 13 March
04	CS Submission - capital projects in construction- May 2024
05	FM performance Recovery Update - 20 March (002)
06	FMQ Highland June 2024
07	Ministerial Submission - Update on HSC Funding postion April 2024
08	Submission - £100m waiting times funding options March 2024
09	Collated Emails from Deputy Director of Finance
10	2024-25 - Health Infrastructure - Capital Funding - Bilateral meeting - June 2024_2
11	Briefing Note - Audit Scotland report note to FM - Mar 2024
12	Cab Sec briefing for meeting with Miles Briggs on PAEP
13	Cab Sec note for FM - 07 May 2024
14	Cab Sec note for FM - 9 May 2024
15	Options to fund infrastructure - March 24
16	Extract of Territorial Board FMQ briefs
17	Arthritis - ministerial briefing - Versus Arthritis event - Glasgow, 22 March 2024
18	Briefing to Cab Sec - Community Diagnostics Centre - 22 May 2024
19	Cab Sec - Key HSC commitments and status - Apr 2024
20	Cabinet Secretary HSC - Briefing Pack - NHS Shetland Visit - 03.04.2024
21	DGC - Consolidated Accounts 2023-24 - Performance Report to DGs - 1 August 2024
22	Extract of HSC Briefing for Ministers - Final
23	Major Projects - Design - Briefings - IIP Progress Report for 2023-2024 - Lines to be updated - 9 Apr 2024
24	Ministerial Engagement - National Staffside, NHSS Employers and Partnership
25	Ministerial Engagement Briefing - Unite Health Conference - 2 April 2024
26	NHS Overview FMQ - Week Beginning 15 April
27	NHS Overview FMQ Week of 25 March
28	NTCP - Governance - Planned Care - NTC Co-ordination - 16 May 2024
29	Template - 100 days engagement and Ministerial Summer Tours - HSC
30	NHS Recovery Health and Social Care - Mandate Letter - July
31	NTCP - Ministerial Briefing - NTC Fife Visit - March 2024
32	Visit to Ninewells hospital - Cab Sec brief - 25 July 2024 v2
33	Collated Planned Care emails
34	Cab Sec Brief - Orthopaedic Meeting with BOA 23 July 2024
35	Cab Sec Briefing - Waiting Times - March 2024
36	Cabinet Secretary HSC - Briefing Pack - Sight Scotland Engagement
37	Scotland Versus Arthritis briefing - 29 May 2024
38	Visit to Ninewells hospital - Cab Sec brief - 25 July 2024 v2
39	Emails to First Minister
40	ASDHD - Ministerial Statistics Briefing - 06-08-2024
41	ASDHD - Ministerial Statistics Briefing - 2024-05-28
42	CSFLG & CSHSC - Debate - Investing in Scotland's Public Services - Briefing Pack - 13 May 2024
43	FM briefing pack - Priorities for Scotland - 22 May statement
44	NHS Overview FMQ brief 17 May 2024
45	PFG V0.2 30 July for FM
46	Waiting Times FMQ brief 17 May 2024

Exemptions apply under sections s.30 (b)(i) & s.38(1) (b) of FOISA to some of the information you have requested. Further information can be found in Appendix A.

Appendix A
REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test

Section 30(b)(i) – free and frank provision of advice

Exemptions under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption recognises the need for Ministers to have a private space within which to seek advice and views from officials before reaching the settled public position. Disclosing the content of free and frank briefing material provided by boards relating to capital spending, construction and workforce will substantially inhibit such briefing in the future, particularly because discussions on the issue relate to a commercially sensitive and ongoing matter. 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 a private space within which officials can provide full and frank advice to Ministers as part of the process of exploring and refining the Government’s policy, until the Government as a whole can adopt a policy decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.

An exemption applies

Section 38(1)(b) – applicant has asked for personal data of a third party

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. 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.

FOI 202400424802 - Information Released - Annex

File type

168 page PDF

File size

4.5 MB