Correspondence regarding Ministerial visit to the University of Dundee: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for the following information in relation to the ministerial visit by the education secretary on April 15 to the University of Dundee.

1. All communications (including but not limited to emails, meeting notes, or messages) between the University of Dundee and the Scottish Government regarding the visit. This should include any internal or external government discussions on media handling, draft press releases and other communications.

2. Briefing notes for the visit.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in electronic format via email as 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 certain exemptions apply. The reasons why the exemptions apply are explained below and more within the Annex to this letter:

• Section 29(1)(d) of FOISA applies as it relates to the operation of any Ministerial Private Office. As per the conditions of this exemption, information is exempt under section 29(1)(d) if it relates to the operation of any Ministerial private office (i.e any part of the Scottish Administration which provides personal administrative support to a Minister).
• Section 30 of FOISA applies as it relates to information throughout the requested period and where disclosure would, or would likely to:

(i) prejudice substantially the maintenance of the convention of the collective responsibility of the Scottish Ministers

(ii) inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice

(iii) inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation

(iv) prejudice substantially the effective conduct of public affairs

• Section 33(1)(b) of FOISA applies as disclosing this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person.
• Section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies as it relates to personal information throughout the requested period. The reason this exemption applies is that:

(i) disclosing the personal data would contravene any of the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK GDPR (“the first condition”); and

(ii) disclosing the personal data would contravene Article 21 of the UK GDPR (right to object to processing) and the public interest favours withholding the data (“the second condition”)

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 202500462163 - Information Released - Annex

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