Israeli Deputy Ambassador Visit: FOI release

Information requested

The following regarding the recent visit from the Israeli Deputy Ambassador to St Andrew's House and her meeting with Cabinet Secretary, Angus Robertson:

1. Was the Israeli Deputy Ambassador invited or did she request a visit and who approved this?

2. Which members of the Cabinet and Ministers agreed to, were aware of the visit and who agreed this should be kept from the public until after the event?

3. Was an agenda set for the meeting and if so who prepared it, and what did it include?

4. The full minutes of the meeting and any future meetings planned with the Israeli embassy.

5. Which other Scottish agencies are involved in collaborations/cooperation's with Israel? E.g Scottish Enterprise.

6. Will Scottish Government funding for culture/arts be conditional on engagement with Israel or limit ability for projects to be critical of Israel and government complicity.

Response

1. The answer to your question is the Israeli Deputy Ambassador requested a meeting as the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture outlined in his statement on 19 August - Meeting with Israeli Diplomat - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). This request was accepted by the Cabinet Secretary following official advice.

2. The answer to your question is that the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture agreed to the meeting, and the First Minister was aware of the visit. An exemption under section 32(1)(a) of FOISA applies to the second part of the information you have requested. This exemption applies to any information that may cause substantial prejudice to international relations between the UK and any other 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. 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 of the subject matter as well as the interest in open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish and UK Governments being able to maintain good and honest relations with states they choose to engage with.

3. An exemption under section 32(1)(a) of FOISA applies to the information you have requested. This exemption applies to any information that may cause substantial prejudice to international relations between the UK and any other 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. 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 of the subject matter as well as the interest in open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish and UK Governments being able to maintain good and honest relations with states they choose to engage with.

4. An exemption under section 32(1)(a) of FOISA applies to the information you have requested. This exemption applies to any information that may cause substantial prejudice to international relations between the UK and any other 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. 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 of the subject matter as well as the interest in open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish and UK Governments being able to maintain good and honest relations with states they choose to engage with.

5. An exemption under section 17 of FOISA applies to all of the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government is not responsible for the information held by other agencies. However, taking the example you mentioned of Scottish Enterprise, you may wish to contact them at FOI@scotent.co.uk who may be able to help you.

6. An exemption under section 17 of FOISA applies to all of the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government does not hold any information in scope of this request. While we don't hold information on the final request, you may wish to write to the Cabinet Secretary directly at CabSecCEAC@gov.scot to ask for their views on this subject.

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.