Building a New Scotland independence paper information: FOI release

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


Information requested

On what date did work cease on the planned Building a New Scotland independence papers covering the following topics:

1. Fiscal plan 

2. Pensions

3. Energy/net zero

In each case, please provide the draft paper as it existed when work was halted.

Response

Early stage indicative timetable plans for the Building A New Scotland prospectus series included potential publication titles that, as work progressed, were ultimately combined with other material to create one paper. One of the potential publications included in an early stage indicative publication schedule was a ‘Fiscal and Monetary Framework’. In summer 2022, it was determined that these topics would be included in in the publication ‘A Stronger Economy with Independence’ paper that was published in October 2022 - Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence - summary - gov.scot, which would cover macro-economic matters and material on Scotland’s economic strengths and the opportunities for growth and a new economic model in the context of indepedence.

Work on the ‘Fiscal and Monetary Framework’ paper did not progress to a draft version of a stand-alone paper. This is a formal notice under S.17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.

Regarding draft BANS material relating to Pensions and Energy/Net Zero, the First Minister asked officials within the Constitutional Futures Division on 23 September 2024 for work on a single overview paper for the BANS series to be taken forward. Work on additional stand-alone papers did not continue past this point.

Section 30(c) (Prejudice to the Effective Conduct of Public Affairs) of FOISA applies to your request for draft versions of papers. The reasons why this exemption applies is explained in the Annex A of this letter.

Annex A

Section 30(c) – Prejudice to the Effective Conduct of Public Affairs

An exemption under Section 30(c) (Prejudice to the Effective Conduct of Public Affairs) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. The reason why this exemption applies is because releasing drafts of Scottish Government publications in the BANS series, which had not reached clearance stage, would result in inaccurate information on the Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland being published, thereby undermining the Scottish Government’s ability to effectively and accurately engage and communicate with the public.

This would constitute substantial prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs in terms of the exemption. 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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in enabling the Scottish Government to effectively and accurately engage and communicate with the public on its proposals for an independent Scotland without the risk of these proposals being prejudiced by inaccurate information, which doesn’t reflect final decisions taken.

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.

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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