· FOI · partially withheld
Teaching in a Diverse Scotland Report publication: FOI review
Information requested
No request text extracted.
Response
No response text extracted.
Detected exemption language
In submitting your request for a review, you stated that you were dissatisfied with the decision to redact significant amounts of information using the 'free and frank exchange of views' exemption under 30(b)ii of FOISA. However, section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) also recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to discuss issues and options with external stakeholders before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. However, there were two emails from BEMIS (dated 7 March 2018 and 7 June 2018) which had information redacted under section 30(b)(ii) but, as the responses to those emails were released, it seems appropriate to release the queries which had been raised by BEMIS, and these unredacted emails are now attached. As this exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’ I have taken account of all the circumstances of this case, and have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. I have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, with the exception of the two emails detailed above.