Security and transport for Scottish Ministers: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/02389
Date received: 12 October 2017
Date responded: 9 November 2017

Information requested

How much it costs the tax payer in:

(1) security and protection for the (a) First Minster and (b) other ministers

(2) cost of car transport for the most recent years.

Response

(1a) In accordance with advice from Police Scotland we do not comment on or publish details of the First Minister's security arrangements.

(1b) While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 39(1) (health and safety) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained below.

(2) The information you have requested can be found in Annex B.

Reasons for not providing information

An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to the information you have requested in relation to Ministerial security. This exemption applies because we consider that release would be likely to endanger the safety of Scottish Government Ministers.

This exemption is also 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. While we recognise that there is some public interest in release of this information in order to promote openness, there is a much greater public interest in avoiding significant risks to the safety of Ministers.

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-17-02389 - Annex B- information (tabulated).pdf

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1 page PDF

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13.7 kB