Correspondence between Police Scotland and the First Minister between 29 March-5 April 2023: FOI release

Information requested

All correspondence (including telephone records) between Police Scotland and the First Minister (including staff and SPADS) between 29th March 2023 until - and including - today.

Response

Please find attached some of the information that you have 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 an exemption(s) under section s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained below.

An exemption(s) under section(s) s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

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.

An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual.

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 some public interest in the First Minister’s travel. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the safety of the First Minister. Therefore, in accordance with advice from Police Scotland, the First Minister’s car travel arrangements are not published.

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.

Annex A (3)

File type

4 page PDF

File size

925.3 kB

Annex B (2)

File type

2 page PDF

File size

137.3 kB