Number of memos/minutes sent from Lord Advocate’s office/Law Officers to the First Minister: FOI release

Information requested

Please provide the total number of memos/minutes (“Minute to the First Minister” or equivalent formal note) sent from the Lord Advocate’s office / Law Officers to the First Minister’s office between 1 October 2025 and 17 February 2026 (inclusive).

I am not requesting the content of any memo, nor any description of what it relates to. If held, please also provide:

1. the date each memo/minute was sent (a list of dates is sufficient), and
2. any document reference number (if such numbers exist).

If any part is withheld, please disclose the remainder and specify the FOISA exemption(s) relied upon.

Response

1. The Scottish Government holds 9 minutes which fall within the scope of your request. The dates of these Minutes (or equivalent formal note) are listed below.

1. Letter from the Lord Advocate to the First Minister dated 17 December 2025.
2. Note from the Solicitor General for Scotland to the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Local Government dated 17 December 2025.
3. Letter from the Lord Advocate to the First Minister dated 5 January 2026.
4. Letter from the Lord Advocate to the First Minister dated 17 January 2026.
5. Minute from the Lord Advocate to the First Minister dated 19 January 2026.
6. Note from Law Officers’ Private Office to First Minister’s Private Office dated 21 January 2026.
7. Minute from the Lord Advocate to the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice & Home Affairs dated 5 February 2026.
8. Minute from the Lord Advocate to the First Minister & Cabinet Secretary for Justice & Home Affairs dated 13 February 2026.
9. Note from Lord Advocate’s Office to the First Minister dated 16 February 2026.

2. 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 and therefore, this is a notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold document reference numbers for the documents outlined at part 1 of our response above.

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