Direct communication between the First Minister and Permanent Secretary and their associated offices: FOI Review

Information requested

Original Request 202600508787

Under FOI, I would like to request all documentation exchanged between the (1) First Minister and his office, and (2) Joe griffin and his office from 01 December to the date of this FOI.

For the avoidance of doubt, this is not where either party have been copied to a chain of emails. This is specifically about direct communication between the offices. If you take the view that this would be above the cost limit, please tell me the number of instances that this communication has occurred so I can round down a time frame.

Response

I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) for:

Under FOI, I would like to request all documentation exchanged between the (1) First Minister and his office, and (2) Joe griffin and his office from 01 December to the date of this FOI.
For the avoidance of doubt, this is not where either party have been copied to a chain of emails. This is specifically about direct communication between the offices. If you take the view that this would be above the cost limit, please tell me the number of instances that this communication has occurred so I can round down a time frame.

In your review request you state:

I would like this reviewed. There are a number of items which refer in the email chains to attachments or “see below” which contain no information. Why has this not been disclosed? You cannot omit whole documents.

I also dispute the use of your exemptions.

I have concluded that the original decision should be confirmed with modifications.

I have given careful consideration to the original response and I agree, in general, with the exemptions applied. The Case Owner, as you clearly requested, has focused on direct communication between the First Minister and the Permanent Secretary (including the respective offices). I have decided that some of the information withheld under sections 30(b)(i) and 30(b)(ii) falls outwith the exemptions applied and should have been released. I enclose a revised copy of the information you requested with redactions applied at ANNEX A.

In your review request you highlight email chains which refer to attachments or "see below". I have reviewed all of the email chains and given you have specifically sought "direct communication" I am content that the information referred to as attachments or "see below" relate to emails from or to other parties and not direct communication between the First Minister and his office, and the Permanent Secretary and his office. Therefore the information is out of scope.

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 202600513029 - Information Released - Annex

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