All meetings in which Ross Greer MSP and John Swinney MSP were present since January 1, 2022: FOI release

Information requested

Information relating to all meetings held in which Ross Greer MSP and John Swinney MSP were present since January 1, 2022, including, dates, times, locations, minutes and actions resulting from the meeting. Please exclude all Scottish Parliament committee meetings and meetings of the whole Scottish Parliament.

Response

I enclose a copy of some 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 exemption(s) under section 28 (relations within the United Kingdom), section 29 (policy formulation), section 30 (free and frank exchange of views) and section 38 (personal information of a third party) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in the annex to this letter, and below.

The exemption under section 38 (personal information) 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.

The exemptions under sections 28, 29 and 30 are 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, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, including encouraging the provision of free and frank advice from officials and a similarly free exchange of views between Scottish Ministers and members of the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group for the purposes of deliberation and development of policies.

To release this briefing material would be likely to inhibit substantially these free and frank exchanges between Scottish Ministers and Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group and this would undermine arrangements designed to allow the Scottish Government and the Green Group to seek to achieve maximum cooperation and collaboration on the broadest range of the Government’s responsibilities, as set out in the Bute House Agreement. Additionally, the release of some of the information could prejudice substantially relations with the United Kingdom Government.

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.

FOI 202200328720 - Freedom of Information - documents to release - PDF

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33 page PDF

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558.1 kB