Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom meeting material: FOI release

Information requested

A copy of the briefing pack for and the minutes from the meeting between the First Minister and Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, on 22nd September 2025.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested at Annex A.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions of FOISA under sections, s.17 notice that the information is not held, s.28(1) relations with the UK, s.32(1)(a)(i) relations between UK and any other state, s.32(1)(a)(ii) relations between UK and any international organization or court and s.38(1)(b) personal data of a third party, apply to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained below.

An exemption under section 17 – notice that the information is not held – of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to the note of the meeting between the First Minister and Dr Zomlot because at the time of your request the final meeting note had not been cleared and added to the official record.

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.

An exemption under section 28(1) – relations with the UK – of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to information in the briefing pack. It applies to protect the Scottish Government’s relations with the UK Government.

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 of the interest in disclosing information as part of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining relations between the Scottish Government and UK Government.

An exemption under s.32(1)(a)(i) relations between UK and any other state – of advice of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to information in the briefing pack. It applies to protect the UK Government’s diplomatic relations with other states.

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 of the interest in disclosing information as part of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in protecting the UK diplomatic relations with other states.

An exemption under s.32(1)(a)(ii) relations between UK and any international organization or court – of advice of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to information in the briefing pack. It applies to protect the UK Government’s relationship with international organisations or courts.

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 of the interest in disclosing information as part of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in protecting the UK’s relationship with international organisations or courts.

An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to personal data of officials below the senior civil servant 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.

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FOI 202500491414 - Information released - Annex A

File type

PDF

File size

201.4 kB