Publication - FOI/EIR release

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government defence spending statement: FOI release

Published: 18 November 2025
Directorate: Chief Economist Directorate
Topic: Economy, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202500480566
Date received: 14 August 2025
Date responded: 4 September 2025

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

On 14th August 2025, The Times newspaper published a story headlined: Defence spending row as SNP accused of ‘wholly misleading’ figures. Please provide all internal Scottish Government discussion (involving Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers, or Press Officers), by email or direct messaging applications, on the response statement from Shona Robison included in the Times story.

Response

I attach a copy of the information you requested. An exemption under section s.38(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. The names of officials below the Senior Civil Service have not been released.

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.