Correspondence regarding Operation Branchform: FOI release

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


Information requested

1. A copy of any briefing for the First Minister that relates to Operation Branchform.

2. The last email or message sent by the First Minister’s office or the man himself that mentions Operation Branchform. 

3. Any Scottish Government document sent to First Minister that refers to ‘Operation Branchform top lines’.

4. Copies of any phone or text messages sent by the main man in the last seven days that mentions arrests or operation branchform

Response

In response to your first question, some of the information you have requested is available from the publications page of the Scottish Government website at the following links. These published freedom of information requests contain all the information published by the Scottish Government on the topic of Operation Branchform:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300353098/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300361710-2/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300353106/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300351077/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300363848/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300367384/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/legal-advice-and-correspondence-relating-to-operation-branchformfoi-release/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/correspondence-on-operation-branchform-jan-apr-foi-release/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300387032/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400400381/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202300374787/

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 website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

In response to your second question, I enclose a copy of most of the information you 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 an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained below/in the Annex to this letter.

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.

In response to your third question, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

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 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.

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 https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400445252 - Information Released - Annex

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

Back to top