Scottish Government expenditure on Tartan week: FOI release

Information requested

Could you break down the cost of you spending a week ( probably ) in new York and how much it is costing in total with yourself and anyone you have taken with you ( as I doubt you would be alone) and what benefit ( financially) it is to Scotland. Knowing that you are not meeting with any American politicians ( according to the media) so please explain cost to profit of your trip.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested which you will find in the table attached at Annex A.

Please be aware that the above table does not include information relating to the cost of travel for the First Minister and for the Special Adviser who accompanied him on this visit. While our aim is to provideinformation whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide this information because an exemption under section 27(1) Information intended for future publication of FOISA applies to that information. This exemption applies as details of ministerial engagements, travel and gifts and Special Advisers gifts and hospitality will be published within the next 12 weeks and will be available when published at the links below. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and Special advisers: gifts and hospitality - gov.scot.

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 some public interest in release because of interest in Ministerial and Special Advisers travel. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in minimising the resource implications of the duplication of work.

Some of the costs incurred for this trip were in relation to security matters for the First Minister. The Scottish Government does not comment on the First Minister’s security matters. An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is 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 some public interest in the arrangements for the First Minister’s security. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the safety of the First Minister.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because some of the information you have requested (names of Scottish Government officials and external stakeholders) are the personal data of a third party.

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.

In response to your question with regards to what benefit this visit was to Scotland, I attach a report on the outcomes of the visit, attached at Annex B. An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the company referred to in the report.

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. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies considering investment in Scotland, to ensure that we do not prejudice commercial decisions which may lead to economic growth and increased employment in Scotland.

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FOI 202500461033 - Information Released - Annex A and B

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