FOI/202000066366 · FOI · partially withheld
Proposed £80 billion fiscal stimulus package: FOI release
Information requested
Any internal briefings, or memos produced for Scottish government ministers and officials around the proposed £80 billion fiscal stimulus package as called for by Kate Forbes MSP. Please provide any details of any meetings between Scottish Government ministers and officials on the subject.
Response
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in Appendices A and B. 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 30(b(i)) (free and frank provision of advice) of FOISA applies to that information. This exemption is 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 to support public scrutiny of government decision making. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining officials' ability to provide free and frank advice to ministers.
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 30(b(i)) (free and frank provision of advice) of FOISA applies to that information. This exemption is 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.