TV programme "River City" correspondence: FOI release

Information requested

Any internal or external correspondence, including any attachments, WhatsApp messages, text messages, instant messaging, memos, OneNotes, minutes, agendas, appendixes or other correspondence and information relating to the TV programme River City. With information being limited to anything held since the start of 2025.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

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 exemptions under sections 33(1)(b) (prejudice to commercial interests) and 38(1)(b) (personal information of a third party) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

Section 33(1)(b) (prejudice to commercial interests): This exemption applies to some of the information requested because disclosure of this would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of a person or company. 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 public interest in release because there is a general public interest in transparent government and information held by the Scottish Government. We recognise that there is an interest into how decisions are reached in this sector and how money is spent by commercial entities operating, or seeking to operate, in Scotland. However on balance, there is a greater public interest in protecting the integrity of these conversations and decision-making process, so that individuals and companies are not unduly prejudiced in the future and that companies operating within this sector continue to invest in Scotland.

Section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information of a third party) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party i.e. the names of individuals, 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.

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FOI 202500458660 - Information released - Documents

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