Correspondence related to the organisation Stonewall: FOI release

Information requested

"Any correspondence sent to or sent from John Swinney, Shirley-Anne Sommerville or Kaukab Stewart to Stonewall or about Stonewall in the last year."

Response

We interpret this to include all emails to or from the Minister for Equalities, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice or the First Minister which relate to the organisation Stonewall, exchanged between 6 May 2024 and 6 May 2025.

I enclose a copy of the correspondence held by the Scottish Government, which has been collated into one document. Any attachments have been added separately.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information contained within the emails because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) and section 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) of FOISA applies to that information.

The exemption under Section 38(b) of FOISA has been applied throughout the documents as there was personal information which is exempt from disclosure. This information included people's names, contact details, and information relating to those people which could allude to their identity.

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.

The exemption under section 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some the information requested because it relates to advice given to Ministers.

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 effective conduct of public affairs.

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 202500465040 - Information Released - Annex

File type

PDF

File size

478.0 kB