Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Israeli Deputy Ambassador: FOI release

Information requested

In relation to the recent meeting between Angus Robertson MSP, in his official ministerial capacity, and the Israeli Deputy Ambassador:

1. The minutes of the meeting.

2. All drafts and amended versions of the minutes.

3. All submissions and minutes covering or about the minutes or the meeting.

4. All minutes, correspondence and documents about the visit and meeting, whether before, after or during. Specifically to include all communications with the First Minister or his office, whether before, after or during the visit.

5. All material on how to handle publicity over the visit.

6. Highest available definition copies of all photographs of the visit paid for with official funds.

Response

For the final request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained below:

No member of the Scottish Government took any photographs relating to the meeting, no photographs are held by the Scottish Government regarding this meeting.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

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 the following exemptions apply:

An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

This exemption applies to email conversations where the formulation or development of Scottish Government policy is discussed.

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 officials being able to discuss formulation of policy in a free manner.

An exemption under section 29(1)(d) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

This exemption applies to email and Whatsapp conversations that are related to the operation of a Ministerial Private Office.

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 effective running of Ministerial Private Offices in assisting Ministers with their day-to-day duties.

An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

This exemption applies to email conversations where members of the Scottish Government provide free and frank advice.

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 government officials having the space to provide impartial advice.

An exemption under section 32(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some 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.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

This exemption applies to personal data belonging to a third party. This includes names of civil servants as well as correspondence from third parties.

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 202400426737 - Information Released - Annex A

File type

94 page PDF

File size

1.2 MB