Acting Minister for Climate Action's visit to the Scottish Open: FOI release

Information requested

The attendance list, guest list, meeting minutes, agenda, and any briefing or civil service submission to Dr Alasdair Allan linked to his visit to the Scottish Open on July 14.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested. 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 exemption under section section 33(1)(b) and 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

An exemption applies

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Exemptions under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested because it covers personal data of a third party, ie names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

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.

An exemption also applies under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA to a small amount of the information you have requested. Information is exempt under section 33(1)(b) if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person. “Person” includes a public authority, company and partnership, in this case the Scottish Government.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial and financial interests of the Scottish Government, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money. 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.

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 202400445145 - Information released - Annex

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