Bond supplier day information: FOI release

Information requested

On 26th January 2026, in connection with the Scottish Government’s bond programme, a “Supplier Information Day” was held at Scotland House in London. Please provide the following information about this event:

(1.) The full text of John Swinney’s remarks.

(2.) The full text of remarks made by any other representatives of the Scottish Government.

(3.) All presentation materials used by any representatives of the Scottish Government.

(4.) A full list of who attended the event, by name (if possible) and by institutional affiliation.

(5.) Copies of any materials provided to attendees of the Supplier Information Day.

(6.) Any notes/transcripts/recordings of Q&A sessions which occurred during the Supplier Information Day.

(7.) Any reports written on the Supplier Information Day.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you have requested:

1. Document 1 is an adjusted draft of the First Minister’s speaking note, reflecting the remarks made at the supplier information day.

2. Document 2 is a speaking note relating to the presentation, reflecting the remarks made by officials at the supplier information day. Document 3 is a further speaking note relating to the presentation. Document 4 is a speaking note relating to the procurement section of the presentation.

3. The presentation you have requested is available here - Bond supplier day presentation - gov.scot Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

4. Document 5 is an attendee list for the supplier information day.

5. Attendees were provided with a copy of the presentation, which can be found here - Bond supplier day presentation - gov.scot

6. Information not held by the Scottish Government.

7. Information not held by the Scottish Government.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. In this instance we are also unable to provide some of the information you have requested because of an exemption(s) under section(s) Section 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information). The reasons why exemptions are applied to the information are explained in the Annex to this letter.

ANNEX

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested

The Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have asked for because we do not hold this information. As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.

Section 30(b)(i) – free and frank provision of advice

An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to provide free and frank advice to other officials before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of free and frank advice will substantially inhibit the provision of such advice 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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which officials can provide full and frank advice to other officials as part of the process of exploring and refining the Government’s position in relation to the bonds programme, until the Government as a whole can adopt a decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good decisions can be taken.

Section 38(1)(b) – applicant has asked for personal data of a third party

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

FOI 202600503390 - Information released - Documents

File type

PDF

File size

707.9 kB