Correspondence regarding editing First Minister’s media release after publication: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
This request relates to the following news release:
https://www.gov.scot/news/challenging-poverty-with-family-friendly-policies/
When first published on 6th October 2025, the above news release included the following statement:
The cost-of-living guarantee:
- Lower income tax than in the rest of the UK for the majority of workers
By the morning of 7th October 2025, the word "workers" had been changed to "taxpayers".
Please provide all internal Scottish Government correspondence (including Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers, and Press Officers), by email or direct messaging application, discussing the decision to edit the above news release after its initial publication.
If the correspondence doesn't make it clear, please also identify the person or persons who made the decision to edit the news release after publication, and all persons who were made aware that the edit had happened.
In addition, please provide any information which explains why the edit was not disclosed at the foot of the news release, as is good practice in such circumstances.
Response
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the format you asked for. We are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under Section.38(1)(b) (personal information) applies to some of the information you have requested.
The decision to amend the news release was taken by a Communications Team Leader following a request from a policy official. The Scottish Government, including News teams, takes seriously our responsibility to ensure that information published is both timely and accurate, and to correct any errors that are identified.
As you note, it is good practice that changes to the text of published releases, other than fixing minor typos, should be recorded on the page. This was an oversight and was added to the website page shortly after it came to our attention.
About FOI
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Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG