Correspondence regarding Parliamentary Questions S6W-16060 and S6W-16061: FOI Release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
Please provide me with all Scottish Government correspondence relating to written questions S6W16060 and S6W16061. This should include all correspondence involving Scottish Government Ministers or officials, as well as officials from any other relevant directorates, agencies, or non-departmental public bodies.
Information provided should include - but not be limited to - a) draft iterations of responses to the written questions b) discussions between officials about how to respond to the questions, and c) copies of related files such as email attachments, particularly where these inform or convey deliberations on how to respond to the written questions.
Please provide this information in chronological order, from earliest to latest correspondence.
Response
An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for Ministers and officials to have a private space within which to discuss and explore options before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of free and frank discussions on funding eligibility will substantially inhibit such discussions in the future, particularly because these discussions relate to sensitive issues.
This exemption covers “draft iterations of responses to written questions”, “discussions between officials about how to respond to the questions” and “copies of related files such as email attachments, particularly where these inform or convey deliberations on how to respond to the written questions”.
I have provided some of the information you have asked for. I have attached the email chain relating to assigning this PQ to an official to respond. An exemption applies to this email chain under Section 38(1)(b) – Personal data relating to third party.
This exemption applies to some of the information requested because it contains personal information which is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it and accordingly all personal data has been redacted from the document.
I also attach the background notes which were submitted to the minister along with the PQ responses which were issued.
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 Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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