· FOI · released
Export Statistics Scotland: FOI release
Information requested
You asked for Correspondence (emails, Yammer messages, typed or handwritten notes, letters, phone calls, minutes of meetings or otherwise) between SG ministers or special advisers and civil servants regarding the Exports Statistics Scotland publication prior to its public release.
Response
I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested. This consists of briefing documents sent to Ministers and Special Advisers and email discussion between Scottish Government officials and Ministers to agree press lines and other communication, prior to publication.
Access to these statistics prior to their public release is controlled and is provided under the rules and principles of the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008. This allows these statistics to be shared up to 5 working days prior to publication. This is primarily to ensure that responses to questions and public statements made at the time of or shortly after publication are based on a correct understanding of the statistics.
The final statistical documents can all be found on our website:
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/Exports/ESSPublication.