Correspondence on Legislative Consent Motion for Electronic Trade Documents Bill: FOI release

Information requested

"I understand that the Scottish Government recommended that the Scottish Parliament pass a Legislative Consent Motion for the UK Parliament to make the Electronic Trade Documents Act extend to Scotland.

Can you please supply all internal correspondence, memos, minutes of meetings and advice given in reaching this decision?”

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. For ease, I have split this into information from documents and information from email exchanges.

Some of the information you have requested is available online. You can find a range of material related to the Electronic Trade Documents Bill Legislative Consent process here: Electronic Trade Documents Bill | Scottish Parliament Website. This includes an evidence session where the Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade gave evidence on the Bill.

There is also a range of information available on the UK Parliament’s website, available here: Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 – UK Parliament.

You may have a particular interest in the publications section which holds detail of amendments to the bill and information on delegated powers.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, (information otherwise accessible) we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed above, then please contact me again and I will send you paper copies.

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 the below sections of FOISA applies to that information:

• s.36(1) - Confidentiality in legal proceedings
• s.30(b)(ii) - The free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views

The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained in the Annex to this letter.

You will also note that to protect personal data, some names and personal details have been redacted in our response to you. This is standard practice.

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 202300387684 - Information Released - Annex A

File type

2 page PDF

File size

80.6 kB

FOI 202300387684 - Information Released - Annex B

File type

44 page PDF

File size

675.3 kB