Publication - FOI/EIR release

Tartan Week: FOI release

Published: 4 January 2024
Directorate: External Affairs Directorate
Topic: Public sector
FOI reference: 202300352137
Date received: 18 April 2023
Date responded: 18 May 2023

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

Can you share any briefings prepared for Angus Robertson for his attendance?
Can you release the names and job titles of all ministers, civil servants, special advisers and others who attended events?
Can you detail the cost of the travel and accommodation for each individual?
Can you release their itineraries?
Can you release any evaluation of Scotland week events?
Can you release any correspondence between the Scottish Government and the UK Government on Tartan Week events?
Can you release all correspondence between the Scottish Government and Diageo relating to this year's Tartan Week/Scotland Week?

Response

We append a copy of some of the information you requested below. You can find the following information in attached Annexes to this response:

Annex A: Briefings prepared for Cabinet Secretary Robertson for Tartan Week

Annex B: Cabinet Secretary's programme for Tartan Week

Annex C: Correspondence between the Scottish Government and the UK Government on Tartan Week events

Annex D: Correspondence between the Scottish Government and Diageo relating to Tartan Week this year

Annex E: Official support travel and accommodation costs

Please be aware that the above table does not include information relating to the cost of travel for the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide this information because an exemption under section 27(1) Information intended for future publication of FOISA applies to that information.

This exemption applies as details of ministerial engagements, travel and gifts will be published within the next 12 weeks and will be available when published at the link below. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

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 interest in Ministerial travel. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in minimising the resource implications of the duplication of work.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested regarding evaluation of Tartan Week events. However, monitoring and evaluation reports are proactively published and will be available in due course.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have 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 exemptions under s.30(ii) (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs), s.33(1)(b) (commercial interests and the economy), s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained below.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because some of the information you have requested (names of Scottish Government officials and external stakeholders) are the personal data of a third party.

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 under section 33(1)(b) (commercial interests and the economy) applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because release of some of the information requested would be likely to prejudice substantially the commercial interests of a public authority, company or partnership.

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 public interest in commercial activity in Scotland however, this is outweighed by the public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies who are looking to invest into Scotland.

An exemption under section 30(ii) (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because the release of this information would substantially inhibit the free and frank provision of 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 public interest in preparations for Ministerial engagements, however this is outweighed by the public interest in allowing for the free and frank provision of advice to Ministers and the free and frank provision of advice for the purposes of deliberation.

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.