Ministers work phone and tablets: FOI release
- Published
- 23 January 2024
- Directorate
- Digital Directorate
- Topic
- Public sector
- FOI reference
- FOI/202300383851
- Date received
- 6 November 2023
- Date responded
- 6 December 2023
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
1. Make and model of work issued mobile phones and tablets, including details of any upgrades or replacements.
2. Any ICT help desk records relating to the upgrade, replacement, or backing up of mobile phones and tablets.
Response
1. Please find below a list of Ministers and former Minsters in the past 5 years, and according to our records, if they have or had a mobile phone or tablet.
Current Ministers
|
Minister |
Current Ministerial Role |
SG Mobile |
SG Tablet |
Details of upgrade or replacements |
|
Humza Yousaf |
First Minister |
YES |
NO |
Samsung J6 replaced May 2021 |
|
Shona Robison |
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Angela Constance |
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Neil Gray |
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Mairi McAllan |
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Mairi Gougeon |
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Angus Robertson |
Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Michael Matheson |
Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care |
YES |
YES |
|
|
Shirley-Anne Somerville |
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Jenny Gilruth |
Cabinet Secretary for Education & Skills |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Siobhian Brown |
Minister for Victims and Community Safety |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Natalie Don |
Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Richard Lochhead |
Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade |
YES |
YES |
|
|
Fiona Hyslop |
Minister for Transport |
YES |
YES |
iPhone 7 replaced in February 2021 |
|
Elena Whitham |
Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Tom Arthur |
Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Maree Todd |
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing & Sport |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Emma Roddick |
Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Graeme Dey |
Minister for Higher Education, Further Education (& Minister for Veterans) |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Gillian Martin |
Minister for Energy and the Environment |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Jamie Hepburn |
Minister for Independence |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Joe FitzPatrick |
Minister for Local Government Empowerment & Planning |
YES |
YES |
|
|
Jenni Minto |
Minister for Public Health & Women's Health |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Paul McLennan |
Minister for Housing |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Patrick Harvie |
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel & Tenant's Rights |
YES |
NO |
|
|
George Adam |
Minister for Parliamentary Business |
YES |
NO |
|
|
Christina McKelvie |
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development |
NO |
YES |
|
|
Lorna Slater |
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity |
NO |
NO |
|
|
Dorothy Bain KC |
Lord Advocate |
NO |
YES |
|
|
Ruth Charteris KC |
Solicitor General |
NO |
NO |
|
Former Ministers
|
Minister |
SG Mobile |
SG Tablet |
|
Fergus Ewing |
YES |
YES |
|
Michael Russell |
YES |
NO |
|
Keith Brown |
YES |
YES |
|
Aileen Campbell |
NO |
YES |
|
Ash Regan (Denham) |
NO |
YES |
|
Ivan McKee |
YES |
YES |
|
Clare Haughey |
YES |
NO |
|
Kevin Stewart |
YES |
YES |
|
James Wolffe QC |
YES |
NO |
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the current make and model information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) 30c (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) of FOISA applies to that information.
In considering this exemption we have taken account of the fact that disclosure of information under the FOISA is to “the world at large”, not just to an individual applicant. We are therefore required to consider the effect of releasing the information into the public domain.
We recognise that there is an inherent public interest in openness and transparency regarding the use of Government systems. However, we have to balance this interest with the ability of those conducting Government business to operate safely and securely, as well as to protect our networks and information, all of which is required to enable the conduct of public affairs.
Providing details about the information you have requested into the public domain could subsequently be used by threat actors to evade any controls we might or might not have in place.
We consider that the public interest in ensuring that the security of our systems and processes is not compromised, thereby maintaining ability to conduct affairs of public office, outweighs that of disclosing this information. We have therefore decided to withhold the information.
2. The only ICT help records we can find relating to the upgrade, replacement, or backing up of mobile phones and tablets are shown below.
|
Minister |
Help desk Record |
|
Humza Yousaf |
Service Request - Upgrade of Samsung J6 |
|
Fiona Hyslop |
Service Request - Upgrade of iPhone 7 |
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.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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