Publication - FOI/EIR release

Paisley manufacturing centre visit documentation: FOI release

Published: 16 July 2025
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Economy, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202500460405
Date received: 3 April 2025
Date responded: 2 May 2025

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from the meetings, briefings, analysis about John Swinney's visit to Paisley manufacturing centre on December 16 2024, between November 15 2024 and January 15 2025.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you have 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 section s.38(1)(b) (personal information) and s.39 (1) (health and safety) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why exemptions apply are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Schedule of Documents

Part 1

Ministerial Briefing (p1-p8)
Briefing template (p9-p12)
Email between SG officials (p13)
Draft event programme (p14-p15)
First Ministers speaking note (p16-p17)
Email providing speaking note (p18)
Email between SG officials (p19-p20)
Email between speech writers and SPADS (p21-p22)
Invitation from CPI (p23-p24)
Draft speaking note for Minister Vallance (p25-p28)
Note of call between SG, UKG and CPI (p29)
Operations Note (p30-p32)
Emails between SG Comms and CPI (p33-p50)
Emails between SG officials (p51-p54)

Part 2

Emails between SG officials and SG Comms (p1-p8)
Emails between SG officials and CPI (p9-p10)
Emails between SG Comms, DSIT and CPI (p11-p17)
Emails between SG Comms and CPI (p18-p27)
Email between SG officials and DSIT (p28)

Part 3

Emails between SG officials, Private Office(p83-p86) (p1-p4)
Emails including Ministerial Briefing and Operations Note (p87-p90) (p5-p8)
Emails between SG Comms and Private Office (p91-p96) (p9-p14)
Emails between SG Comms and SPADS (p97-p102) (p15-p20)
Emails between SG officials and Visits and Events (p103-p110) (p21-p28)
Email between SG officials and Private Office (p111) (p29)

Part 4

Proposed invitee list

Annex

Section 38(1)(b) – applicant has asked for personal data of a third party

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie Scottish Government and UK Government contact details. The names and contact details of these individuals has been redacted, 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.

Section 39(1) – Health and Safety

An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA (health and safety) applies to some of the information requested because disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual. 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 protecting the safety of individuals.

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.