US President documentation and Historic Environment Scotland meeting information: FOI release

Information requested

- All documentation seen by the First Minister and/or his office, including correspondence (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, which mentions or is to/from Donald Trump, between February 1 2026 and March 25 2026;

- All minutes/notes from meetings Angus Robertson held with Historic Environment Scotland in the 12 months up to March 15 2026.

Response

All documentation seen by the First Minister and/or his office, including correspondence (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, which mentions or is to/from Donald Trump, between February 1 2026 and March 25 2026

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested. This can be found at Annex A.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b), personal information, of FOISA applies to some of the information you requested because it is personal data of a third party (i.e. names/contact details of individuals), and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

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.

An exemption under Section 30(b)(ii) (the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation) applies to some of the information you requested. This exemption recognises the need to allow Ministers some private space for discussion.

This exemption is 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 exemption.

We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in maintaining the process of achieving collective responsibility within a private space within which policy positions can be explored and refined by Ministers in order that the Government, as a whole, can reach a final decision. This private thinking space also allows for all options to be properly considered, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy-/decision-making process.

All minutes/notes from meetings Angus Robertson held with Historic Environment Scotland in the 12 months up to March 15 2026

Mr Robertson, former Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, met with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) officials on 5 occasions between March 15 2025 and March 15 2026. Where available, I have enclosed the minutes of the events. These can be found at Annex B.

HES have published the minutes of “Scotland’s Historic Environment Forum” which Mr Robertson attended on June 11 2025. You can access the minutes at Scotland’s Historic Environment Forum (SHEF) Event Report 2025.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested.

Mr Roberston attended a meeting of the “Our Places, Our Future” steering group in November 2025. HES routinely produce, and publish, minutes of the steering group meetings. You can contact HES at https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/contact-us/ to request a copy of the steering group minutes.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

With regards to the information released at Annex B, an exemption under section 38(1)(b), personal information, of FOISA applies to some of the information you requested because it is personal data of a third party (i.e. names/contact details of individuals), and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

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.

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 202600515701 - Information Released - Annex A

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PDF

File size

1.3 MB

FOI 202600515701 - Information Released - Annex B

File type

PDF

File size

315.6 kB