Ministerial Preferences: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
1. A copy of the latest ministerial preferences document for each Scottish Minister (in terms of how they like to receive information and working preferences etc.) that is available to Scottish Government staff.
2. Any previous versions of such a document for each minister produced since 1 September 2025.
Response
I enclose a copy of most 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 of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections 29(1)(d) (Operation of Ministerial Private Office) and 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information.
An exemption under section 29(1)(d) of FOISA (Ministerial private office) applies to some of the information requested because it relates to the operation of any Ministerial private office. 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. However, there is a greater public interest in preserving the efficient and effective operation of a Ministerial Private Office.
In addition, this is a formal notice that an exemption under Section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested, this is because it is personal data of a third party and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. 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.
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.
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