Former First Minister's trip to Qatar: FOI release

Information requested

1. I am looking for the number of staffers, anyone from Scotgov or anyone or tasked by Scotgov to accompany and attend with the FM or in support of, or in any capacity whatsoever, that went to Qatar with Humza Yousaf and his wife Nadia El Nakla on February 12, 2024?

2. Did Mr Yousaf and his wife pay for the trip or was it expensed to the taxpayer? If so how much was spent on flights and accommodation?

3. What were the reasons behind the staffer's, anyone from Scotgov or anyone or tasked by Scotgov to accompany and attend with the FM or in support of, or in any capacity whatsoever, joining Mr Yousaf and his wife? What did the staffers that went to Qatar do?

4. How many meetings did he have set up by staffers before going to Qatar? How many did he attend that were unorganised? Who were these meetings with?

5. What were the security arrangements for this trip? And the level of cover agreed for this trip? What was the cost?

6. I am looking for all correspondence, whatsapp, unofficial and screenshots of deleted correspondence, emails and unofficial notes discussing Humza Yousaf and his wife's trip to Qatar on February 12. 2024?

Response

1. I am looking for the number of staffers, anyone from Scotgov or anyone or tasked by Scotgov to accompany and attend with the FM or in support of, or in any capacity whatsoever, that went to Qatar with Humza Yousaf and his wife Nadia El Nakla on February 12, 2024?

This was a personal trip to Qatar. No staff accompanied Mr Yousaf, and nor was anyone or any organisation tasked by the Scottish Government to accompany or attend, in any capacity.

2. Did Mr Yousaf and his wife pay for the trip or was it expensed to the taxpayer? If so how much was spent on flights and accommodation?

Mr Yousaf paid for his trip to Qatar.

3. What were the reasons behind the staffer's, anyone from Scotgov or anyone or tasked by Scotgov to accompany and attend with the FM or in support of, or in any capacity whatsoever, joining Mr Yousaf and his wife? What did the staffers that went to Qatar do?

Please see the response to question 1.

4. How many meetings did he have set up by staffers before going to Qatar? How many did he attend that were unorganised? Who were these meetings with?

Mr Yousaf did not conduct any meetings during his personal trip.

5. What were the security arrangements for this trip? And the level of cover agreed for this trip? What was the cost?

The Scottish Government does not comment on the First Minister’s security matters. An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in the arrangements for the First Minister’s travel. however, this is outweighed by the public interest in the safety of the First Minister.

6. I am looking for all correspondence, whatsapp, unofficial and screenshots of deleted correspondence, emails and unofficial notes discussing Humza Yousaf and his wife's trip to Qatar on February 12. 2024?

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested as a PDF. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance some of the material is being withheld under exemptions outlined in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

Section s.32(1)(a) – International Relations
Some of the information you have requested has been withheld under S.32(1)(a) because this relates to international relations and would likely prejudice substantially relations between the UK and another state. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of interest in open and transparent government and current heightened media interest in the Scottish Government’s international activity. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish Government and UK Government building relationships with other countries.

Section 38(1)(b) – Personal data
Some information has been withheld as an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal data) of FOISA applies to that information. This is because it is personal data of a third party and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK GDPR (or section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018). This exemption is 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.

Section 39(1) Health and safety
Some information relevant to your fourth question has been withheld as an exemption under section 39(1) (health and safety) of FOISA applies to that information.

On the basis of advice from Police Scotland, we have concluded that the exemption at section 39(1) is applicable to this request as release of the information sought would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual. Not only would the safety of the First Minister be endangered, but also anyone travelling with him and members of the public in close proximity.

The risk to the First Minister and others is informed by Police Scotland’s threat assessment of a “serious and sustained threat from violent extremists”. It is therefore a real and not hypothetical risk. Should such violent extremists be able to obtain information about the First Minister’s travel arrangements this could facilitate planning of an attack. In recent years, attacks on politicians in the United Kingdom have increased, some with severe consequences, most notably the murders of Jo Cox MP in 2016 and Sir David Amiss MP in 2021.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400401024 - Information Released - Annex

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PDF

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322.3 kB