· FOI · partially withheld
Special advisors' emails regarding freedom of information requests: FOI release
Information requested
The requester asked for information which "concerns emails sent by special advisors regarding freedom of information requests." Specifically, the requester asked for all emails sent and received by the following special advisors of the Scottish government between May 1st and June 1st 2017 concerning freedom of information requests made to the Scottish government:
Colin McAllisterLiz LloydKate HigginsDavie HutchisonStewart Maxwell
Response
Please see the attached document for a copy of the two e-mail exchanges which are relevant to the request. A small amount of information has been redacted because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to it. This exemption applies because the information is personal data of a third party, i.e. names of officials who are below the level of the Senior Civil Service and private phone numbers, 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.
Detected exemption language
A small amount of information has been redacted because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to it. This exemption applies because the information is personal data of a third party, i.e. 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.