Correspondence between the Chief Economist and Scotonomics: FOI release

Information requested

For the period 12th May 2024 - date, please provide:

(1.) All correspondence between the Scottish Government’s Chief Economist, Gary Gillespie, and William Thomson or Kairin van Sweeden, both of Scotonomics.

(2.) Any briefing materials, notes, or minutes relating to meetings between Gary Gillespie and William Thomson or Kairin van Sweeden.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested in Annex A.

For part one of your request, an exemption under section 38 (1) (b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested because it is personal data of a third party, eg names/contact details of individuals below the Senior Civil Service, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in 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.

For part two of your request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. No information was found. 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 202500450680 - Information released - Annex A

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