Details of meeting with representatives from the Scottish taxi and private hire trade: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
“I’d like to request details of a meeting that took place on January 15/01/2021 between Kate Forbes MSP (Finance Secretary) & Representatives from the Scottish Taxi & Private Hire Trade to discuss the structure of of the financial support to be offered to the industry.
On 14/1/2021 tweeted “there is a meeting tomorrow between industry & ScotGov tomorrow”. I’d specifically like to know who was present at this meeting? Who was representing the Taxi & Private Hire Trade? I’d also like to request any minutes from this meeting.
Also, Kate Forbes tweeted in the same tweet “this is the latest meeting of several, to inform the design of the scheme”. I’d like to know the date of all the previous meetings, details of who was present at these previous meetings and any minutes that’s were taken.”
Response
I enclose a response to your request.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested as the exemptions under sections 17(1)(b) (information not held) and 38(1)(b) 2 (personal information) of FOI(S)A apply. Further information on why this information cannot be provided and why section 38(1)(b) applies can be found in the annex to this letter.
The relevant meetings referred to in your request took place on 19 November 2020 and 15 January 2021. Minutes for the meeting that took place in November of 2020 were not taken at the time. As such, this is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because we do not hold it. However, please find the information we found within scope of your request attached in a separate document for the meeting that took place on 15 January this year.
On both occasions these meetings were attended by Mr Jamie Hepburn, the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, along with Scottish Government officials who supported the Minister, and representatives of Unite the Union Mr Dougie Maguire and Mr Willie Thomson.
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Contact
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Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
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