Officials involved in trip to Turkey for summit: FOI release

Information requested

1. The number and job title of all Scottish Government officials involved in the trip to Turkey by Nadia El-Nakla for summit of leaders' spouses organised by the First Lady of Turkey on November 15 2023.

2. Between November 1 and December 31 2023, any materials (briefing notes, emails, minutes) where the details of Ms El-Nakla's trip are discussed.

3. Throughout the same dates (inclusive) any communications between the Turkish and Scottish governments, their officials, Ms El-Nakla and Mr Yousaf, where they exist (including letters, emails and message exchanges on platforms like Whatsapp).

4. Any cost of the trip, whether through travel, staffing or otherwise, incurred by the Scottish Government.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in the PDF attached.

In response to your first question, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained below.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because Ms El-Nakla attended this summit in a personal capacity and as such, no Scottish Government officials were involved in the trip.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

In response to your second and third questions, some of the information you have requested is available from:

• Meeting with Turkey and Lebanese delegations at COP28: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Response to Q7. and in Annex G from page 66 of the attached document: First Minister meetings and engagements: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, 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, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

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 s.30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice), s.32(1)(a) (substantial prejudice to international relations) , s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

Exemptions under sections s.30(b)(i), s.32(1)(a) and s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some the information you have requested. This is because the information contains deliberation between officials and the exchange of views for the provision of advice to both senior officials and ministers. This is also because the information includes exchanges with the Turkish Government. The information also includes personal information.

Exemptions under s.38(1)(b) are not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

Exemptions s.32(1)(a) and s.30(b)(i) 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of current media interest in this topic and interest in openness and transparency in government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish Government being able to build strong relationships with other countries and public interest in Scottish Government officialsbeing able to provide advice to senior officials and ministers.

In response to your fourth question, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained below.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because no Scottish Government funding was used to cover any costs of the trip, "whether through travel, staffing or otherwise", as requested.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested

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 202400394465 - Information released - Annex A

File type

4 page PDF

File size

112.2 kB