Briefings to Ministers on England's 10 Year Health Plan: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
''Any briefings to Scottish ministers on England's 10 Year Health Plan, published in July 2025. Please provide any briefings in June, July, August and September 2025.''
Response
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.
We are committed to providing information wherever possible, however, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because of exemptions under sections s.30(b)(i) (Free and frank provision of advice) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA. The reasons why those exemptions are applied are explained below.
Exemptions under section s.30(b)(i) are needed so officials can give free and frank advice in private as early disclosure of this information could lead to reduction in the advice given. Exemptions under Section 38(1)(b) are needed to protect personal information where releasing it would breach data‑protection principles, such as revealing identifiable details about individuals.
These exemptions are 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 exemptions. We recognise that there is some public interest in release as it supports open, transparent and accountable government and to inform public debate. On balance, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining a private space within which officials can provide Ministers with free and frank advice. They need full and candid advice from officials to enable them to do so. Premature disclosure of this type of information could lead to a reduction in the comprehensiveness and frankness of such advice and views in the future, which would not be in the public interest.
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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