Petition PR1458 and Scottish Government's commitment to create a register of Judges interests: FOI release

Information requested

Documents, meetings, communications and discussions held by the Scottish Government and anyone acting for it – and any other person or organisation or public authority including the Scottish Parliament, MSPs, MPs, Lord President, Judicial Office, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Law Society of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates and any other organisation, relating to Petition PE1458 and the Scottish Government's commitment to create a register of judges' interests as called for in Petition PE1458 and any work by the Scottish Government and any other organisation consulted by the Scottish Government relating to proposals contained in Petition PE 1458 and any other material considered by the Scottish Government in relation to and accumulated as a result of Petition PE 1458 including any communications with the Scottish Parliament and any others, including communications with, or representations from MSPs, former MSPs, members of the legal profession and judiciary, academics, and anyone else - to create a register of judges' interests from 20 October 2023 to the date of this FOI request.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions under sections s.29(1)(a) (policy formulation), s.30(b)(i) (free and frank exchange of views), and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA apply to that information.

Some of these exemptions 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 exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding 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 https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400433029 - Information Released - Annex

File type

108 page PDF

File size

1.7 MB