Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity ministerial meetings: FOI release

Information requested

The minutes of all of Jim Fairlie’s ministerial meetings for January 2025.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested as shown in the table below.

Doc No	Date	Meeting Description	Page No
1	07/01/2025	NFUS Regional Board (Argyll and Bute)	1-5
2	07/01/2025	RSPB - Licensing of Grouse Shooting	5-7
3	14/01/2025	Dairy Growth Board-	7-10
4	14/01/2025	Candidate for Chair of Crofting Commission-	10-11
5	14/01/2025	Enhanced Greening	12-14
6	14/01/25	Meeting to discuss Crofting Legislation	14-15
7	14/01/2025	Scottish SPCA	15-17
8	14/01/2025	Scottish Road Works Commissioner (with Ms Hyslop)-	18-19
9	15/01/2025	Winchburgh Stakeholder Group-	19-20
10	15/01/2025	SRUC - Vertical Farm Opening (visit)-	20-22
11	15/01/2025	THE AGRI-ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE SCHEME (AECS) AND MUIRBURN	22-23
12	16/01/2025	Maryhill Integration Group - Free Bus Travel for Asylum	23-25
13	16/01/2025	Christine Grahame MSP - Welfare of Dogs	25-27
14	16/01/2025	Quality Meat Scotland (with Ms Gougeon)	27-30
15	16/01/2025	Ross Greer MSP - Welfare of Dogs	30-32
16	16/01/2025	Maurice Golden MSP - Welfare of Dogs	32-34
17	20/01/2025	Trellis (visit)	34-36
18	20/01/2025	NFUS (visit with FM)	36-40
19	22/01/2025	Unite Union – Aviation-	40-42
20	27/01/25	Inter Ministerial Group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	42
21	28/01/25	Discussion between Minister and Officials on SSBSS Force Majeure	42
22	29/01/2025	Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity pre-meeting with officials ahead of meeting members of the Cowal Transport Forum	43
23	29/01/2025	Cllr Daniel Hampsey and Cowal Transport Forum-	44-45
24	29/02/2025	Islands Connectivity Plan-Meeting with Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity	45-47
25	29/01/2025	Mark Ruskell MSP - Greyhound Racing Bill	47-48
26	30/01/2025	SASA/SF officials’ update meeting with Mr Fairlie	48-49
27	30/01/2025	Ministerial Working Group on Food	50
28	30/01/2025	NFUS Next Generation and SAYFC-	50-52

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(s) under section(s) Section 29﴾1﴿﴾a﴿‐Policy formulation. Section. 28(1)-Relations with UK, Section 38 (1)(b)- Personal information. Section.33(1)(b)-commercial interest, Section 29﴾1﴿﴾a﴿‐Policy formulation. Section.30﴾b﴿﴾ii﴿‐Free and frank exchange of Views of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Annex to the standard response letter- Reasons for not providing information (As referenced in paragraph 4 and 5 above)

An exemption applies

An exemption(s) under section(s) s.38(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This information has been redacted as it contains personal information and can therefore not be released.

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.

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test

An exemption under section 28(1) of FOISA (relations within the UK) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially relations between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, Welsh Government & Northern Ireland Executive. It is essential for the effective administration of the UK as a whole that there should be regular, and often private, communications between the Scottish Government, the UK Government and the other devolved administrations. The release of these communications about Inter- Ministerial Group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will mean that the UK Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive are likely to be more reluctant to share such information with the Scottish Government in future, which would reduce both the frequency and openness of communications between the Scottish Government and other UK administrations.

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 maintaining good relations between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, and in protecting the free exchange of information between the administrations to ensure that we keep each other fully and regularly informed about matters of mutual interest, such as Inter- Ministerial Group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs There is no public interest in disclosing information when that will damage relationships and disrupt future communications.

An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation or development of government policy) applies to some of the information requested because it relates to the formulation or development of the Scottish Government’s policy on SSBSS Force Majeure, Food, Enhanced Greening, Scottish SPCA, Scottish Road Works Commissioner, Free Bus Travel for Asylum Seekers and several areas involving SASA

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 high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications. Their candour in doing so will be affected by their assessment of whether the discussions on SSBSS Force Majeure, Food, Enhanced Greening, Scottish SPCA, Scottish Road Works Commissioner and Free Bus Travel for Asylum Seekers several areas involving SASA will be disclosed in the near future, when it may undermine or constrain the Government’s view on that policy while it is still under discussion and development.

An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for Ministers and officials to have a private space within which to discuss and explore options before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of free and frank discussions on will substantially inhibit such discussions in the future, particularly because these discussions are still ongoing and decisions have not been taken, and these discussions relate to a sensitive or controversial issue such as Scottish SPCA, Scottish Road Works, Free Bus Travel for Asylum Seekers

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 allowing Ministers and officials a private space within which to explore and refine the Government’s policy position on Scottish SPCA, Scottish Road Works, Free Bus Travel for Asylum Seekers, until the Government as a whole can adopt a decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of Dairy Growth Board, SRUC . Disclosing this information would be likely to give Dairy Growth Board and SRUC competitors an advantage in future similar tendering exercises, which would substantially prejudice Dairy Growth Board and SRUC ability to submit competitive tenders and so could significantly harm their commercial business.

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 and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies which tender for, or enter into, Scottish Government contracts, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

An exemption under section 33(2)(b) of FOISA (financial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the financial interests of the Scottish Government. Disclosing information about how much the Scottish Government is able to pay for goods/services would substantially prejudice our ability to obtain value for money and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the financial interests of the Scottish Government, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

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 202500452774 - Information Released - Annex

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