First Minister meeting with Deloitte UK: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01403
Date received: 20 June 2017
Date responded: 7 July 2017

Information requested

A copy of the minutes from the meeting held between Nicola Sturgeon MSP and David Sproule on 20 March 2017 and all correspondence relating to this meeting.

Response

1. I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the format you asked for.

2. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance a small amount of information has been redacted because exemptions under sections: 33(1)(b) (commercial interests), and 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Annex: Reasons for not providing information

An exemption applies, not subject to the public interest test

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data i.e. names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. 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.

Exemptions applied, subject to the public interest test

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of Deloitte. Disclosing this information would be likely to give the company's competitors an advantage in similar technology fields and markets, or within tendering exercises, which could substantially prejudice Deloitte's commercial business.

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 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 ensuring that information is not disclosed which could benefit the competitors of Scottish based businesses and impact their ability to contribute to Scotland's economy.

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Meeting with Deloitte.pdf

File type

13 page PDF

File size

415.1 kB