Cameron Barracks documentation: FOI release

Information requested

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, about Cameron Barracks, from the last month.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you have requested. Attached are three letters that reference Cameron Barracks within the timeframe you requested. The first letter is from the Cabinet Secretary of Social Justice to Fergus Ewing MSP, while the other two letters detail correspondence between the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister for Asylum, Alex Norris MP.

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 28 and Section 30(b) (ii) of FOISA applies to that information. This is because Cameron Barracks is currently a sensitive matter, and therefore it is important to ensure that free and frank discussions between Ministers and officials is not prohibited. Additionally, there is a significant risk that releasing such information could damage the Scottish Government’s relationship with the Home Office and result in the Scottish Government being excluded from information sharing in the future.

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 media interest in Cameron Barracks and asylum policies more generally. However, this is outweighed by the fact that releasing these minutes would damage the Scottish Government’s relationship with the UK Government. This could potentially result in the Scottish Government being excluded from future information sharing at meetings. The significant risk of Scottish Ministers and their officials being excluded from future information sharing would inhibit the provision of free and frank advice to Ministers and impact the effective conduct of public affairs.

As asylum and immigration are reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office, you may wish to contact the Home Office at foirequests@homeoffice.gov.uk to find out whether there is further information which they would be able to provide in relation to your request.

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 202500497799 - Information released - Letters

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