Official Report correction: FOI Review

Information requested

Original Request: 202500455077

Scottish Government's explanation for why the Official Report has not been corrected following the First Ministers statement during First Ministers Questions that “the Labour Party promised a reduction of £300 in energy bills right away".

Response

You requested a review of a previous FOI response (ref. 202500454054) that itself was reviewing your original FOI request (ref. 202500455077). It concluded that “the Scottish Government [held] no information corroborating the First Minister's claim that the Labour Party promised energy bills would fall by £300 “right away”.” And you have suggested therefore that “His statement in the Scottish Parliament on 20th February 2025 … did require a correction”.

You have asked for an explanation as to why no correction was made.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested, however we are happy to explain the basis of the First Minister’s comments in the Scottish Parliament.

It may also be helpful to you to know that Scottish Parliament proceedings are conducted under the Parliament’s standing orders which is separate to the Scottish Government. Under this process, MSPs have the ability to write to the Presiding Officer to seek a correction if they believe they have made a statement which is a “significant error”, which is further described in the guidance as “for example, one which may affect the conclusions which listeners would draw from the debate”. This guidance can be found publicly here:

Official Report: Guidance on the correction of inaccuracies

During the election campaign the UK Labour party indicated, through material produced for the election, that they would deliver a £300 reduction in energy bills as part of their first steps. This has been interpreted by the First Minister to mean that these changes would happen “right away”.

For example, on June 28 2024, Labour published campaign materials on their website entitled “My First Steps for Change”, signed by Sir Keir Starmer.

Labour's first steps for change – The Labour Party

It states that through various actions their ‘first steps’ would “…cut bills by £300 on average and deliver real energy security.” This campaign document was released a week before the election.

The First Minister therefore made the assessment that these changes to bills would happen right away.

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.