Scottish Government's news release on the UK Government's Spending Review: FOI release

Information requested

1. All government correspondence (including Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers and Press Officers) involved in the drafting of the Scottish Government's news release on the UK Government's Spending Review: https://www.gov.scot/news/spending-review-presents-challenges/

2. A full list of all people inside the Scottish Government who had sight of the news release before it was published, naming them where possible and giving their positions where naming is not possible. Please also indicate which people on the list ultimately signed off on the text.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information that you requested under part 1of your FOISA request in the attached Annex.

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 an exemption(s) under section(s) 30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation) and 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

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, i.e. email addresses and phone numbers and names of civil servants below Senior Civil Service level. Disclosing this information 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.

An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested including draft news releases and discussion on early drafts of the news release. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to discuss and explore options before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view.

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.

On part 2 of your request, I have copied below a list of individuals who had sight of the news release before it was published. I have named those at Senior Civil Service (SCS) level and put the Director General area for those below SCS. The news release was signed off by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government: Shona Robison MSP,
Minister for Public Finance: Ivan McKee MSP
Special advisers: David Hutchison, Sean McGivern, Ross Ingebrigtsen, Jack Middleton
Deputy Director, Head of News and Digital: Julie Grant,
Deputy Director, Directorate for Economic Development: Anne-Marie Martin
Deputy Director, Budget and Fiscal Coordination: Alasdair Black,
Deputy Director for Infrastructure and Investment: Katherine White, Daniel Hinze
Deputy Director, Head of Social Security Policy: Ian Davidson
Director of Public Spending: Richard McCallum
Director of Fiscal Sustainability and Exchequer Development: Jennie Barugh
Officials from DG Corporate: 9
Officials from DG Strategy and External Affairs: 1
Officials from DG Net Zero: 4
Officials from DG Economy: 4
Officials from DG Scottish Exchequer: 3
Officials from DG Communities: 3
Officials from Social Security Scotland: 1

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 202500470477 - Information released - Annex

File type

PDF

File size

213.5 kB