FOI/202300340436 · FOI · partially withheld
Correspondence with Scottish National Investment Bank relating to recruitment of CEO: FOI release
Information requested
“All the correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Investment Bank pertaining to the recruitment of a new CEO following the resignation of Eilidh MacTaggart. Please provide all emails, letters, phone calls, what’s app messages etc from the beginning of 2022 to the present time.”
Response
I attach a copy of some of the information you requested at Annex B to this letter. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions apply. An exemption under section 30(b)(i) and 30(b)(ii) free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation; and under section 30(c) substantial prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs, of FOISA apply to that information. The information you have requested relates to a recruitment process and the provision of advice to Ministers regarding that process. As part of this, there must naturally be a private space for free and frank exchange of views in order to facilitate decision making based on evidence gathered through a recruitment exercise, both by the Bank and a third party agency. 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 exemptions. More details can be found in Annex A to this letter. One further exemption applies under section 38(1)(b) third party personal data of FOISA. 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 http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions apply. An exemption under section 30(b)(i) and 30(b)(ii) free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation; and under section 30(c) substantial prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs, of FOISA apply to that information. 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 exemptions.