Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care's trip to Japan information: FOI release

Information requested

A number of items in relation to Mr Gray's Japan visit.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.

A breakdown of your queries has been provided below:

1. Full details of Mr Gray’s itinerary in Japan, including all meetings, events, locations, and times.

Withheld under Section s.27(1) – Information due to be released July 25th.

2. Confirmation of exactly who invited Mr Gray — was this trip requested by the Japanese government, a private organisation, or was it arranged at the Scottish Government’s own initiative?

The visit was arranged off of the Scottish Government's own initiative to engage with international partners and attend Expo Osaka.

3. Any correspondence or consultation with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office regarding this trip, given that international relations are constitutionally reserved to the UK Government. 

Documents provided, with specific exemptions applied.

4. A complete itemised breakdown of all taxpayer-funded costs for Mr Gray and any staff or officials accompanying him, including flights, hotels, meals, expenses, and security. 

Withheld under Section s.27(1) – Information due to be released July 25th.

5. Copies of all briefing notes, presentations, and background documents prepared for Mr Gray relating to this trip, particularly those concerning NHS Scotland, healthcare innovation, or claims about Scotland’s health system.

Withheld under Section s.27(1) – Information due to be released July 25th.

6. Internal communications (emails, memos, meeting notes) from ministers or officials discussing concerns about the timing of this trip, specifically given the publication of record-worst cancer treatment waiting times.

No emails noted on record.

7. Confirmation of the date Mr Gray was first informed of the latest NHS Scotland waiting time statistics and whether any discussions took place about postponing or cancelling this trip as a result.

The Cabinet Secretary was first informed on June 19th and no discussions on cancelling the visit took place.

8. Details of any agreements, partnerships, or official outcomes secured during this trip that have tangible benefits for NHS Scotland or the Scottish public.

Information on this will not be available so soon, and any outcomes will be developed longer term.

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) S.27(1) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained below/in the Annex to this letter.

An exemption(s) under section S27.1 of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. the information you have requested will be released to the public via thje Scottish Government website on Friday 25th of July.

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.

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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 202500473021 - Information released - Annex

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