Scottish Government meetings with SSE: FOI release

Information requested

Please provide me with any documentation relevant to the following meetings, including but not limited to:

• a list of attendees and their affiliations
• • what topics were discussed
• any briefings or other information provided to attendees or officials
• minutes, and any agreed actions

On 12/7/24, Special Adviser Davie Hutchinson met with SSE in St. Andrews House.

Source: https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/56532 

On 1/8/24, Special Adviser Colin McAllister met with SSE via Video Conference. 

Source: https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/56533 

On 5/8/24, First Minister John Swinney met with SSE in St Andrews House.

Source: https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/56534 

On 30/8/24 Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes met with SSE at the Doubletree Hotel in Edinburgh

Source: https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/56535 

On 20/9/24 First Minister John Swinney met with SSE at Tummel Bridge Power Station

Source: https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/56551 

Response

Meetings of 12 July and 8 August 2024

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested as we have been unable to locate records relating to the above noted meetings which would provide the specific information sought in your request, namely the attendees, topics discussed and any agreed actions. Therefore, this is a formal notice under Section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested.

It may help if I explain that as part of the response to your request we have conducted a search of the Scottish Government’s main records filing system and have been unable to locate the information requested. I would also note that a search request was submitted to Scottish Government Officials which also resulted in no information being identified that would be in scope of your request.

Meetings of 5 August and 20 September 2024

I have included copies of the information you have requested in Annex B. 

On reviewing materials within the scope of your request, exemptions have been applied in line with FOISA. The exemptions applied can be found in Annex A.

I wish to highlight that the event attended by the First Minister, John Swinney, on 20 September 2024 was a visit to reopen the Tummel Bridge Power Station and that subsequently no minute of said event was recorded.

Meeting of 30 August 2024

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested as the meeting in question was part of a wider party-political event rather than Scottish Government business. Therefore, this is a formal notice under Section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold 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 - 202500459262 - Information released - Annex

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