Gifts received by the Scottish Government Ministers 2016-17: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI reference: FOI/17/02902
Date received: 27 November 2017
Date responded: 14 December 2017
Information requested
A full list of gifts given and received by Scottish Government Ministers in 2016-17.
Response
The Scottish Government's Visits and Events Team hold details of gifts presented by Scottish Ministers and, where it has been possible to extract the information you request, this is detailed in the attached Annex A.
Gift exchanges are undertaken as a courtesy or an expression of gratitude during Ministerial engagements or meetings, in particular with overseas guests or host governments/organisations, and in line with different countries' gift traditions. Scottish Ministers present gifts which relate directly to Scotland: showcasing our country and the best of our nation's talent, produce and contribution to the wider world.
There may be instances where Ministers have presented gifts which have not been recorded, e.g. because they did not come from central stock, or where provided by agencies of the Scottish Government. The costs of locating, retrieving and providing that information would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. The reason for this is that to locate and retrieve such information would require a search across all business areas of the Scottish Government. Under section 12 of FOISA, public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulation made under section 12.
The Scottish Government proactively publishes all Ministerial gifts received, over the value of £140. Information can be found on the Scottish Government website at:
March 2016 – May 2016: Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts
May 2016 - Onwards: Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts
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
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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