FOI/202200322924 · FOI · partially withheld
Correspondence regarding chair of COVID-19 inquiry resignation from role: FOI release
Information requested
Any correspondence between the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry staff or Chair to or from the Scottish Government on the topic of Lady Poole's resignation from her role.
Response
I attach a copy of some of the information you requested. 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) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because personal information such as phone numbers, staff names and email addresses were included in email chains and have been redacted. This exemption applies because it is personal data of a third party, the 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 http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies because it is personal data of a third party, the 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.