Drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: FOI release

Information requested

1. Any email communication or other correspondence between the Parliamentary Counsel's Office of the Scottish Government or any of its staff (including its Director, Andy Beattie) and Liam McArthur MSP, any person working for Liam McArthur MSP (including Dr Amanda Ward) and/or the Non Government Bills Unit of the Scottish Parliament relating to the drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

2. Whether or not any person employed in the Parliamentary Counsel's Office of the Scottish Government (including its Director, Andy Beattie) provided advice or any other assistance to Liam McArthur MSP, any of Mr McArthur's staff (including Dr Amanda Ward) and/or the Non Government Bills Unit of the Scottish Parliament in relation to the drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill (including suggesting the name and/or contact details of a Parliamentary Counsel to assist with the drafting process).

3. Whether or not any approach was made by any person employed in the Parliamentary Counsel's Office of the Scottish Government to the UK Government's Office of the Parliamentary Council or any of its staff (including its then Deputy Director, Adam Bushby or the then First Parliamentary Counsel, Elizabeth Gardiner) to request, seek or suggest that assistance be given to Liam McArthur MSP, his staff (including Dr Amanda Ward) and/or the Non Government Bills Unit of the Scottish Parliament in drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Response

In relation to numbers 1 and 2 above, I can confirm that we do hold email communications between the Parliamentary Counsel Office of the Scottish Government and Liam McArthur MSP, his staff (including Dr Amanda Ward) and the Non Government Bills Unit of the Scottish Parliament relating to the drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

In relation to numbers 1 and 2 above, the material that you have asked for is subject to a duty of confidentiality and therefore exempt from disclosure under 36(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I am therefore unable to provide you with this material.

In relation to number 3 above I can confirm that no approach was made by any person employed by the Parliamentary Counsel Office of the Scottish Government to the UK Office of the Parliamentary Counsel or any of its staff (including its then Deputy Director, Adam Bushby or the then First Parliamentary Counsel, Elizabeth Gardiner) to request, seek or suggest that assistance be given to Liam McArthur MSP, his staff (including Dr Amanda Ward) and/or the Non Government Bills Unit of the Scottish Parliament in drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

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