Accident and Emergency waiting time materials: FOI release

Information requested

All minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, held by the Scottish Government about a&e waiting times, from the last month.

Given this request was a reduced request from your original request on 05 July 2025, the following response provides information from the last month of your original request: June 2025.

Response

With apologies for the late reply, I enclose a copy of some of the information 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 exemptions under sections:

• s.29(1)(a) – formulation or development of Scottish Government policy;
• s.30(b)(i) – free and frank provision of advice;
• s.30(b)(ii) – free and frank exchange of views;
•  s.30(c) – otherwise prejudice effective conduct of public affairs;
• s.38(1)(b) – personal data relating to third party

The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Some of the information you have requested is available from website sources which have been annotated alongside the enclosed information. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

ANNEX

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

An exemption applies

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. names and contact details. 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.

Exemptions apply, subject to the public interest test

Exemptions under section 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) and 30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views) of FOISA apply to some of the information requested. These exemptions recognise the need for Ministers to have a private space within which to seek advice and views from officials before reaching the settled public position. Disclosing the content of free and frank briefing material or of free or frank exchange of views, relating to A&E waiting times would substantially inhibit such briefing or exchanges in the future.

​​​​​​​These exemptions are 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 allowing a private space within which officials can provide full and frank advice to Ministers or exchange views as part of the process of exploring and refining the Government’s policy, until the Government as a whole can adopt a policy decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.

​​​​​​​An exemption under section 30(c) of FOISA (the effective conduct of public affairs) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this information would otherwise prejudice substantially, or be likely to prejudice substantially, the effective conduct of public affairs. 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. ​​​​​​​

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 202500478314 - Information Released - Annex

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