National Museum exhibit - Injecting Hope: The Race for a Covid-19 Vaccine: FOI release

Information requested

All correspondence relating to the National Museum exhibit, “Injecting Hope: The Race for a Covid-19 Vaccine” exhibition, including any requests for exhibits, comment or information from the exhibitors and any correspondence related to the exhibition including between officials discussing responses as well as between Scottish Government and the exhibitors.

Which Government ministers were notified of the exhibition and when. I would like to see all correspondence related to in ataerial involvement in the exhibit.

Response

I will take each question in turn.

1. All correspondence relating to the National Museum exhibit, “Injecting Hope: The Race for a Covid-19 Vaccine” exhibition, including any requests for exhibits, comment or information from the exhibitors and any correspondence related to the exhibition including between officials discussing responses as well as between Scottish Government and the exhibitors.

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested. This is because exemptions under Section 30 (b)(ii) and Section38 (1)(b) of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained below.

• An exemption under Section 30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because the information relates to free and frank provision of advice. This exemption is subject to the public interest test, and we recognise that there is some public interest in release. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring the free and frank provision of advice to Ministers.
• An exemption under Section 38 (1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because the information relates to private individuals.
• An exemption under Section 29 (1)(d) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because the information relates to the operation of any Ministerial private office.

The answer to your question is the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health were notified of the exhibition on 17 January 2025 through an invite sent by National Museums Scotland.

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FOI 202500456450 - Information Released - Annex

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