· FOI · not held
Correspondence between First Minister and her predecessor: FOI release
Information requested
All correspondence between the First Minister and Alex Salmond between November 2014 and the date at which this FOI is processed. Details of all occasions when there have been phone calls or text messages between the First Minister and her predecessor since November 2014.
Response
In relation to point 1, I attach a copy of the information you requested at annex A. An exemption under section 38 (1) (b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, name and contact details of an individual, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. 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.
In relation to point 2, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government does not hold records of telephone calls or text messages. This is a formal notice under section 17 (1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
Detected exemption language
An exemption under section 38 (1) (b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, name and contact details of an individual, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. 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. This is a formal notice under section 17 (1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.