Scottish Government meetings with representatives of the Welsh Government to discuss the Taith Programme: FOI release

Information requested

1. How many meetings have Scottish Government Ministers, Special Advisers or Officials had in each of the last 5 years with representatives of the Welsh Government (Ministers, Special Advisers or Officials) to discuss the Taith Programme.

For each meeting that occurred, please provide the date, attendees, and a minute of the discussion.

2. How many meetings have Scottish Government Ministers had with representatives of the European Union to discuss and develop the Scottish Education Exchange Programme (SEEP) in the last 5 years.

For each meeting that occurred, please provide the date, location, attendees, and a minute of the discussion.

Response

1. Two meetings were held in June 2023 between the First Minister of Scotland and the First Minister of Wales at which the Taith Programme was discussed. The minutes for these meetings can be found in the following publication: Minutes of meetings with Welsh Government regarding replacement of Erasmus: FOI release - gov.scot.

As set out in response to a Written Parliamentary Question in 2022 - Written question and answer: S6W-12424 | Scottish Parliament Website - Scottish Government officials meet regularly with their Welsh Government counterparts sharing best practice, including discussing mobility programmes and ways to maximise participation opportunities for those who need it most. In this context, wider discussion around mobility and exchange, including Taith, take place regularly to ensure both sides collaborate, are up to date and improve efficiency in developing and delivering opportunities for learning and exchange.

We do not hold any further details of these official-level discussions.

2. A meeting between the Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Veterans and the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth was held Tuesday 13 February 2024 at which SEEP was discussed. I have attached details of this meeting.

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 an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

ANNEX

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

An exemption applies

An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

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 38 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) contains four exemptions, all relating to personal information. Information is exempt from disclosure if it is:

(i) the personal data of the person requesting the information (section 38(1)(a));
(ii) the personal data of a third party – but only if other conditions apply (section 38(1)(b));
(iii) personal census information (section 38(1)(c)); or
(iv) a deceased person’s health record (section 38(1)(d)).

2. The exemptions in sections 38(1)(a) and (b) regulate the relationship between FOISA, the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (the DPA2018).

3. The GDPR and the DPA 2018 came into effect on 25 May 2018 and made many changes to data protection laws in the UK (and the rest of Europe). Following Brexit, the UK is no longer subject to the GDPR, but is subject to the “UK GDPR”. Anyone using this guidance should be aware that some of the cases and decisions referred to were decided under the Data Protection Act 1998 (no longer in force).

Although many of the key principles are the same under the new rules, care is required to ensure that the new regime is complied with. This guidance is being updated as new decisions are issued (decisions issued under the new rules are highlighted in green in the Appendix) and as new guidance on data protection is published by the (UK) Information Commissioner (the ICO). (The ICO enforces and regulates data protection throughout the whole of the UK, including Scotland. Detailed guidance on data protection is available from the ICO.)

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 202600500689 - Information released - Annex

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