Copies of training materials provided to ministerial private office staff: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
Copies of the training materials provided to Scottish Government “ministerial private office” staff.
For the avoidance of doubt, this should include training materials developed to respond to FOI requests, training materials on how to perform their role and training materials which explain free and frank exchange of advice.
Response
We have interpreted your request to include training materials used for Scottish Government-wide Freedom of Information (FoI) training sessions and localised training material utilised by Ministerial Private Office. It should be noted that our guidance and training is constantly evolving and the information released here represents our current training sessions. Civil servants are also directed to consult the guidance provided by the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner (OSIC).
Regarding the “free and frank exchange of advice” in relation to FOI requests, we do not provide generic training on this but in addition to the FOI Unit’s case specific advice, we would refer colleagues to OSIC guidance.
I have included the relevant documents in Annex B.
Some exemptions have been applied of which are outlined in Annex A.
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