Publication - FOI/EIR release

Jamie Hepburn's meetings: FOI release

Published: 12 January 2024
Directorate: Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate
Topic: Public sector
FOI reference: 202300338456
Date received: 17 January 2023
Date responded: 14 February 2023

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

Information requested

All internal and external correspondence within and sent or received by the Scottish Government including attached documents, meeting handouts, memos, briefings to ministers, attendee lists, location of meeting, notes, minutes, or OneNote memos, linked to the following meetings:

1a) Jamie Hepburn's meetings with the Scottish Funding Council on September 7, 21, and October 26, 2022
1b) Jamie Hepburn's meeting with Universities Scotland on September 21, 2022
1c) Jamie Hepburn's meetings with the NUS on September 21 and 28
1d) Jamie Hepburn's meetings with the EIS on September 28
1e) Jamie Hepburn's meeting with Anton Muscatelli on September 29
1f) Jamie Hepburn's meeting with Colleges Scotland on October 26
1g) Jamie Hepburn's meeting with unions including GMB, Unite and Unison on October 27.

Response

A copy of most of the information you requested is in the attached documents.

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(s) of FOISA applies to that information:

s.29(1)(a)Formulation or development of Scottish Government policy
s.30(b)(i) Free and frank provision of advice
s.30(b)(ii) Free and frank exchange of views
s.30(c) Otherwise prejudice effective conduct of public affairs
s.33(1)(b) Commercial interests

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 exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because there is a public interest in understanding how decisions are informed, how Scottish Government policy is developed/formulated. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in upholding the exemption, allowing government officials to provide free and frank advice both to Ministers and to each other, particularly in the development stages of policy work that to release would otherwise restrict the availability of options in future.
Additionally, we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) s.38(1)(b) Personal data relating to third party of FOISA applies to that information. 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. In this instance anyone below a senior role have had their information redacted. A senior role is considered as the grade of Senior Civil Servant (or approximate equivalent for outside Scottish Government organisation)

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.