Media bids for Minister for Veterans and the Minister for Higher and Further Education: FOI release

Information requested

Details of all the media bids for Graeme Dey since his appointment Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans; Can you indicate if those media bids were successful or unsuccessful?

Can you also release all correspondence about media bids?

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in:

• Annex A - recorded bids for for Graeme Dey since his appointment as Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans
• Annex B - correspondence about media bids.

In relation to Annex A, please note that Mr Dey has also undertaken a number of media bids/interviews as Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans in addition to those listed, while out on visits and attending functions, which are not routinely recorded.

We are unable to provide some of the information requested in relation to Annex B. This is because exemptions under sections s.38(1)(b) (personal information); s.30 (b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice); s.30 (b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation) and s.29(1)(d)(operation of ministerial office) of FOISA apply to that information.

The exemptions applied under s.30 (b)(i) and s.30 (b)(ii) and s.29 (1)(d) are 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 exemptions. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemptions. We recognise that there is some public interest in disclosing the specifics of advice to ministers in relation to requests for media interviews and also in disclosing the detail of direct communications between a minister and private office, as part of open and transparent government. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which civil servants can provide full and frank advice to ministers and conduct the operation of ministerial private office. This private space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered and explored. Private office, policy and communications officials would likely be less open and provide less clarity in their advice to Ministers if they expect it to be published, thus hindering the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials. This, in turn, would undermine the quality of the decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.

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FOI 202400431940 - Information Released - Annex A

File type

1 page PDF

File size

55.2 kB

FOI 202400431940 - Information Released - Annex B

File type

98 page PDF

File size

766.7 kB