Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture meeting with Israel: FOI release

Information requested

1. All emails relating to the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External affairs and Culture's meeting with the Israeli Deputy Ambassador to the UK.

2. A copy of the briefing prepared for the Cab Sec ahead of the meeting.

3. The note of what was discussed at the meeting.

4. All correspondence with Special Advisers and with the First Ministers private office from and to the Cab Secs office concerning the meeting up to the date of this request.

5. A copy of the invite to the Cab Sec to meet with the Deputy Ambassador and the reply accepting the invite.

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 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(s) under section(s) 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 202400427722 - Information Released - Annex

File type

94 page PDF

File size

1.2 MB