Angus Robertson meeting with Icelandic Prime Minister (October 2022): FOI release

Information requested

Information held in relation to the briefings prepared for Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson and the notes made for his meeting with the Icelandic Prime Minister on 13 October 2022.

Response

I enclose a copy of the briefing for the meeting. Some of the information has been redacted and the engagement report withheld because an exemption under section 32(1)(a) (substantial prejudice to international relations) of FOISA applies to that information.

Section 32(1)(a) – International relations

An exemption under section 32(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested because disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially relations between the United Kingdom and the government of Iceland. The effective conduct of international relations depends upon maintaining trust and confidence between the UK Government and other states. In this case, disclosing information about Scottish Government engagement with Iceland would substantially prejudice relations between the UK and Iceland because there is a need to maintain confidential dialogue in order to ensure that future engagement can take place in a spirit of trust and openness.

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, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in ensuring that the UK Government is able to maintain good relations with other states, in order to protect and promote UK interests. There can be no public interest in jeopardising those relations by the Scottish Government disclosing this information.

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.

Briefing - 202300339808

File type

1 page PDF

File size

102.6 kB