Correspondence regarding Conservative Party: FOI release

Information requested

Internal correspondence between the press office and from the press office to special advisers and Scottish Ministers on the Conservative conference or the Conservatives generally during September or October 2021.

Response

I attach a copy of most of the information you requested in the format you asked for.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections 38(1)(b) and 30(b)(ii) of FOISA applies to that information.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because personal information such as phone numbers and email addresses were included in email trails and have been redacted.

An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because early versions of media lines and press releases which differ from the final, cleared lines, are considered to be free and frank provision of advice.

This exemption is 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. This is because releasing early versions of media responses and news releases could contain factually inaccurate information and therefore be misleading to the public.

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 - 202200291454 - Information Released - Annex A

File type

59 page PDF

File size

1.6 MB

FOI - 202200291454 - Information Released - Annex B

File type

59 page PDF

File size

1.6 MB