Publication - FOI/EIR release
Minutes/notes of meeting between former First Minister and current First Minister: FOI release
- Published
- 20 September 2018
- Part of
- Public sector
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI reference: FOI/18/02300
Date received: 27 August 2018
Date responded: 20 September 2018
Date received: 27 August 2018
Date responded: 20 September 2018
Information requested
It relates to the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against former First Minister Alex Salmond and to meetings between First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Mr Salmond held in 2018.
I would like to request the following information:
I would like to request the following information:
- Notes and or minutes created during the meetings.
- Confirmation if these or any other relevant details were passed on to aid the Permanent Secretary’s investigation.
- All correspondence between the First Minister, her staff or any other SNP Minister and Mr Salmond regarding the investigation.
- All correspondence between the First Minister and SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell, or any other SNP member of staff, regarding the investigation into Mr Salmond.
Response
By reference to section 18(1) of FOISA we cannot confirm or deny whether any information is held. We are applying section 18(1) in conjunction with section 35(1)(c) (information exempt if disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice substantially the administration of justice) and section 38(1)(b) (personal data).
The exemption in section 35(1)(c) is subject to the public interest test. We have viewed the public interest test to be the balance between the need to be open and transparent in our decision making and ensuring that we do not prejudice substantially the administration of justice. In that regard we cannot confirm or deny if any such information exists and we have concluded that the balance favours adopting that approach.
That exemption in section 38(1)(b) is not subject to the public interest test but we have applied the public interest as required by section 18 and have concluded that to reveal whether the information exists or not would be contrary to the public interest.
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
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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