First Minister's London trip details: FOI release

Information requested

Information relating to the First Minister's visit to London on Monday 22nd September 2025, including:

1. A copy of the itinerary for the visit

2. A full list of individuals that the First Minister had meetings with during this visit

3. The total cost to the Scottish Government for this visit, including any travel and accommodation costs

4. The date when this trip was organised and put in the First Minister's diary

5. All correspondence relating to this visit

Response

In response to question 1, the full itinerary for the visit is as follows:

Palestinian Mission Event; Media Bids; Meeting with Dr Husam S Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK; and Meeting with Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

In response to question 2, please see below:

• Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK
• Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East
• Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, and Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister).

In response to question 3,

Some of the costs incurred for this trip were in relation to security matters for the First Minister. The Scottish Government does not comment on the First Minister’s security matters. An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in the arrangements for the First Minister’s security. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the safety of the First Minister.

The remainder of the costs incurred on this visit are:

	Travel	Accommodation	Food/other
First Minister and accompanying officials on 22 September visit to London (x1 Private Office staff member; x1 Special Adviser; x1 Communications Official)
Totals per category	£2819.30	£86.40	£46.10

In response to question 4, the trip was confirmed in the First Minister's diary on Friday 19th September.

In response to question 5, I enclose most of the information you requested at Annex A to this letter.

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 section(s) 32, 38, 20 and 30 of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why are explained below.

Section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Information is exempt from disclosure if it is the personal data of a third party, including civil servants below a Senior Civil Service grades. 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.

Section 32(1)(a) also applies to some of the information you have requested. Under section 32(1)(a), information is exempt from disclosure if disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially relations between the UK and any other State. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the UK maintaining good working relationships with the governments of other states.

Section 28 of FOISA also applies to some of the information you have requested. Section 28 exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially relations between administrations in the UK. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the Scottish Government maintaining good working relationships with the UK Government.

Section 30(b)(i) of FOISA also applies to some of the information you have requested. Information is exempt under sections 30(b) if disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in officials being able to provide free and frank advice to Ministers on complex and sensitive topics.

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 202500486179 - Information released - Annex A

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