FOI/202000110673 · FOI · partially withheld
COVID-19 Correspondence from small retailers concerning lockdown rules: FOI release
Information requested
Copies of any correspondence (emails, letters or otherwise) received by Scottish Ministers/special advisors between 29 October to 11 November from those identified as working in small/non-essential retailers as owners, employers, staff or otherwise who have written concerned about the prospect of a second national lockdown.
Response
I attach a response to your request. 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 under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies. The reason why this exemption applies is explained in Annex A of this letter. ANNEX A A REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION Section 38(1)(b) – Personal data This exemption applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details, 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. ANNEX B LIST OF DOCUMENTS SUPPLIED Document 1 – Correspondence received by Ministers/Special Advisers around the prospect of a second lockdown. 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 of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies. The reason why this exemption applies is explained in Annex A of this letter. ANNEX A A REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION Section 38(1)(b) – Personal data This exemption applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details, 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.