COVID-19 correspondence from the hospitality sector: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to request details of the number of correspondence received by the Scottish Government from pubs and cafes following the announcement made by the First Minister on October 7, 2020 to introduce a complete ban on indoor alcohol sales. At that time there was only takeaway service available from pubs and cafes.

I am requesting details on the number of correspondence from pubs and cafes in Scotland, whether in the form of emails or letters that was sent to the Scottish Government in the week following this announcement, and am doing so through the Freedom of Information Act.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we do not hold the information you have requested.

Items of correspondence sent to Scottish Government Ministers are not held on record based on origin of the sender. Although Scottish Government officials do archive items of correspondence it is not possible to specifically determine whether a pub or café has sent in an email or letter to the Scottish Government or whether the sender is a representative of such establishments. We do not have a function that would allow us to filter through the large number of correspondence that we have received from both businesses and individuals in order to answer your request.

As such, this is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold any information that would fall within the scope of your request.

However, what we can provide to you is that the Scottish Government received a total of 53 pieces of correspondence between 7th October 2020 and 14th October 2020 in relation to the hospitality sector.

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.