Communications correspondence on Greensill Capital and others: FOI release

Information requested

Any internal or external correspondence between the Communications department, senior civil servants, ministers, and/or Special Advisers discussing media requests for comment or interview around issues relating to GFG Alliance, Sanjeev Gupta, Dalzell steelworks, or Greensill Capital, from April 1, 2022, to date.

Response

We append a copy of most 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 exemptions under sections 38(1)(b) and 30(b)(ii) of FOISA applies to that information.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because personal information such as phone numbers and email addresses were included in email trails and have been redacted.

An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because early versions of media lines which differ from the final, cleared lines, and some of the related exchanges about those, are considered to be free and frank exchange of views.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, I have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. I have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. This is because releasing early, draft versions of media responses could contain factually inaccurate information and therefore be misleading to the public. Further, to release some parts of the exchanges related to these would inhibit the future ability of policy officials to provide free and frank advice in the formulation of media statements for ministerial consideration and approval before publication.

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 - 202200321975 - information released

File type

178 page PDF

File size

3.5 MB