Ministerial car journeys: FOI release

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


Information requested

i) How many journeys have been carried out in ministerial cars which have not installed protective screens?
ii) What was the date of each journey?
iii) What was the duration of each journey?
iv) What was the reason for each journey?
You asked for this information to be broken down (excluding the First Minister) per Cabinet Secretary and Minister.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we don’t have the information are explained in the Annex below.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.

Annex
The Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have asked for because we don’t hold records on duration of journey as there is no operational requirement to do so.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested
Since 23 March 2020, 75 journeys were completed in cars without protective screens. A breakdown of these journeys is detailed in the table below.
Protective screens were fitted to operational Ministerial vehicles on 20 April 2020 and since this date, no journeys have been conducted in vehicles without screens.
Prior to that date all vehicles were subject to enhanced cleaning procedures.
All measures recommended in the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) 11 May 20 guidance; Working safely during coronavirus (Covid19) – Vehicles, have been followed and implemented.
Ministerial car journeys without protective screens since 23 March 2020, broken down by Cabinet Secretary and Minister.

Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government - Aileen Campbell MSP

Date of journey Reason for journey
24/03/2020 Ministerial engagement (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Return home

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture - Fiona Hyslop MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
24/03/2020 Ministerial engagement (St. Andrew’s House)

Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills - Jamie Hepburn MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
01/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
01/04/2020 Return home

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform - Roseanna Cunningham MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
01/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
01/04/2020 Return home

Cabinet Secretary for Finance - Kate Forbes MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
25/03/2020 Return home

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs - Michael Russell MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
23/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements  (Parliament – following day)

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport - Jeane Freeman MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
23/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
23/03/2020 Return home
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Return home
25/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
25/03/2020 Return home
26/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
26/03/2020 Return home
27/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
27/03/2020 Return home
29/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
29/03/2020 Return home
30/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
30/03/2020 Return home
31/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
31/03/2020 Return home
01/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
01/04/2020 Return home
02/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
02/04/2020 Return home
03/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
03/04/2020 Return home
05/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
05/04/2020 Return home
06/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
06/04/2020 Return home
07/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
07/04/2020 Return home
08/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
08/04/2020 Return home
09/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
09/04/2020 Return home
12/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
12/04/2020 Return home
13/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
13/04/2020 Return home
14/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
14/04/2020 Return home
15/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
15/04/2020 Return home
16/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
16/04/2020 Return home
17/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
17/04/2020 Return home
19/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
19/04/2020 Return home

Minister for Mental Health - Clare Haughey MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
23/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
23/03/2020 Return Home
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Return Home

Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing - Joe FitzPatrick MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
23/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (St. Andrew’s House)
23/03/2020 Return Home
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Return Home

Cabinet Secretary for Justice - Humza Yousaf MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)

Minister for Community Safety - Ash Denham MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Return Home

Minister for Older People and Equalities - Christina McKelvie MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Return Home

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity - Michael Matheson MSP

Date of Journey Reason for journey
24/03/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
24/03/2020 Return Home
01/04/2020 Ministerial Engagements (Parliament)
01/04/2020 Return Home

About FOI

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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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