Publication - FOI/EIR release

Former Director General for Education and Justice WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

Published: 25 March 2025
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202400439469
Date received: 6 November 2024
Date responded: 5 December 2024

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Information requested

I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for the following individuals WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic. Paul Johnston.

Response

I have taken the period of your request to apply from 21 January 2020 when the World Health Organisation published its ‘Novel Coronavirus’ (2019-nCoV) Situation Report, up until 30 April 2022 when the then remaining Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Scotland.

I enclose a copy of some of the information you have requested. 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 25(1), 30(b)(ii), 30(c), and 38(1)(b) of FOISA
apply to that information. Further explanations as to why these exemptions apply are provided in the attached annex.

I should note that the copies of these messages held by the Scottish Government comprise text only and do not include other media such as images.

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.