Publication - FOI/EIR release

Invite/attendance at HMS Birmingham steel cutting at BAE Systems, Govan: FOI release

Published: 4 January 2024
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Part of: Public sector
FOI reference: 202300350567
Date received: 11 April 2023
Date responded: 5 May 2023

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

Did Scottish Government officials/ministers get invited to the steel cutting of the HMS Birmingham at BAE Systems in Govan on Tuesday April 4 and if so did they send anyone? If you did, who attended and what is their job? Who was invited?
Was Humza Yousaf invited and if so, why did he not attend?
All correspondence between the UK Government, the Scottish Government and BAE Systems regarding the steel cutting event.

Response

The former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP and the former Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes MSP, were invited to attend the steel cutting ceremony. Due to other commitments Ministers were not available on this occasion and two officials from the Manufacturing and Industries division attended on their behalf to represent the Scottish Government. I attach a copy of the information that you requested (see supporting documents 1 and 2). While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.
No invitation was received in Mr Yousaf's ministerial capacity.
I attach a copy of the information that you requested (see supporting documents 3 and 4). There has been no communication with the UK Government, therefore no information to release in this respect. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.