Correspondence regarding Deputy First Minister and First Minister's visit to Prestwick Airport: FOI release

Information requested

Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from the meetings, briefings, analysis, from/about Kate Forbes and John Swinney's visit to Prestwick Airport on March 20/21, between 15 February 2026 and 31 March 2026?

Response

Our response to your request is provided.

Please note that an exemption under Section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested. 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. Personal information was withheld for all officials who are not members of the Senior Civil Service.

The following exemptions have also been applied:

Section 28(1) – Relations within the UK

Information is exempt where disclosure would/would be likely to prejudice substantially relations between administrations in the UK and could include information provided to SG by another UK administration or by SG to another UK administration.

Section 29(1)(a) – formulation or development of government policy

Some of the information is exempt under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA as it relates to the formulation or development of government policy.

Section 30(b) – 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 Ministers before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view.

Section 33(1)(b) – commercial interests

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially commercial interests.

These exemptions are all 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 these exemptions.

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 202600515214 - Information released - Annex

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