Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy COP29 meetings and briefings: FOI release

Information requested

All minutes, details and briefing notes of meetings held by Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin while at Cop29 in Baku in Azerbaijan. These should include who was met, which companies or organisations the Acting Net Zero Secretary met with and what was discussed.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the format you asked for.

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 exemptions under section(s) s17 (information not held); s28 (substantial prejudice to UK relations); s29(1)(a) (formulation/development of government policy); s30(b)(i) (substantial inhibition to free and frank provision of advice); s30(c) (substantial prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs); s32(1)(a) (substantial prejudice to international relations); s33(1)(b) (substantial prejudice to commercial interests); s33(2)(b) (substantial prejudice to the financial interests of a UK administration); s38(1)(b) (third party data) of FOISA applies to that information.

These 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 exemptions. We recognise that there is some public interest in release in support of open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the ability of the Scottish Government to develop government policy effectively; of Scottish Government ministers to engage with UK Government counterparts confidentially; of officials to be able to provide honest advice to ministers confidentially; of Scottish Government ministers to conduct public affairs effectively; of Scottish Government ministers to be able to engage internationally effectively, respecting the established convention that diplomatic communications are made in terms of inferred or assumed confidentiality; of businesses to exercise legitimate commercial interests without prejudice; of UK administrations to effectively engage with businesses, and; in third party data being protected as appropriate.

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 202500447127 - Information released - Annex

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