Scottish Cup final 2025 documentation: FOI release

Information requested

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, about the men's Scottish Cup final 2025, between April 1 2025 and June 1 2025.

Response

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

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This information relates to personal information of individuals below the grade of a senior civil servant.

An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This relates to officials providing Ministers with free and frank 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 because it relates to advice to Ministers. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in Scottish Government officials being able freely give advice on sensitive issues and ongoing working relationships with external stakeholders. Disclosing such advice would substantially inhibit the provision of such advice occurring in the future, particularly as this relates to sensitive issues.

​​​​​​​An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This relates to officials having free and frank discussion about policy issues.

​​​​​​​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 because it relates to football. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in Scottish Government officials being able to have free and frank discussions on sensitive issues and ongoing working relationships with external stakeholders. Disclosing such free and frank discussions would substantially inhibit such discussions occurring in the future, particularly as these relate to sensitive issues..

​​​​​​​An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA relates to information which we deem commercially sensitive and release of this information may harm an active bidding process for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2035. 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 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 protecting the confidentiality of an ongoing bidding process. Stakeholders need to be able to share confidential information with officials and know that their confidence is being maintained. This in turn can help officials provide clear and robust advice to Ministers. This supports securing mega events for Scotland in the short and longer term, with the range of socio-economic benefits they bring.

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 202500486932 - Information Released - Annex

File type

PDF

File size

505.2 kB