Israeli Ambassador Meeting Minutes: FOI release

Information requested

1. The minutes of Angus Robertson’s meeting with Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK which took place on 8 August 2024. Please also include the full list of attendees and any decisions that were taken by the Scottish Government as a result of this meeting.

2. The full correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Israeli Deputy Ambassador/Israeli Embassy regarding this meeting. Please provide the first piece o correspondence concerning this meeting and every subsequent piece of correspondence until the meeting took place and any follow up correspondence from either party. By correspondence regarding this meeting I mean any communications that took place setting up the date/details etc. of the meeting.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested attached to this email in Annex A.

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 an exemptions under sections 32(1)(a) and 38(1) (b) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained below.

Section 32(1)(a) 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.

Section 38(1)(b) applies to personal data belonging to a third party. This includes names of civil servants.

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.

FOI 202400426724 - Information Released - Annex A

File type

2 page PDF

File size

94.3 kB